Contrasting coordination of non‐structural carbohydrates with leaf and root economic strategies of alpine coniferous forests

Zhang, Peipei; Ding, Junxiang; Wang, Qitong; McDowell, Nate G.; Kong, Deliang; Tong, Yindong; Yin, Huajun

doi:10.1111/nph.19678

Title: Contrasting coordination of non‐structural carbohydrates with leaf and root economic strategies of alpine coniferous forests

Journal Article · 15 March 2024 · New Phytologist

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19678 · OSTI ID:2377269

^[1]; Ding, Junxiang ^[2];

^[1]; McDowell, Nate G. ^[3];

^[4]; Tong, Yindong ^[5];

^[1]

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Chengdu (China)
Zhengzhou University (China)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou (China)
Tibet University, Lhasa (China)

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), as the labile fraction and dominant carbon currency, are essential mediators of plant adaptation to environments. However, whether and how NSC coordinates with plant economic strategy frameworks, particularly the well-recognized leaf economics spectrums (LES) and root economics space (RES), remains unclear. We examined the relationships between NSC and key plant economics traits in leaves and fine roots across 90 alpine coniferous populations on the Tibetan Plateau, China. We observed contrasting coordination of NSC with economics traits in leaves and roots. Leaf total NSC and soluble sugar aligned with the leaf economic spectrum, conveying a trade-off between growth and storage in leaves. However, NSC in roots was independent of the root economic spectrum, but highly coordinated with root foraging, with more starch and less sugar in forage-efficient, thinner roots. Further, NSC-trait coordination in leaves and roots was, respectively, driven by local temperature and precipitation. These findings highlight distinct roles of NSC in shaping the above- and belowground multidimensional economics trait space, and NSC-based carbon economics provides a mechanistic understanding of how plants adapt to heterogeneous habitats and respond to environmental changes.

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Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2377269

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-195475

Journal Information:: New Phytologist, Journal Name: New Phytologist Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 243; ISSN 0028-646X

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
alpine coniferous forests
fine root traits
leaf economics spectrum
non-structural carbohydrates
root economics space

Title: Contrasting coordination of non‐structural carbohydrates with leaf and root economic strategies of alpine coniferous forests

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