@article{4c937ac6a92944c4b336359664c5ff2c,
title = "The leaf economics spectrum of triploid and tetraploid C4 grass Miscanthus x giganteus",
abstract = "The leaf economics spectrum (LES) describes multivariate correlations in leaf structural, physiological and chemical traits, originally based on diverse C3 species grown under natural ecosystems. However, the specific contribution of C4 species to the global LES is studied less widely. C4 species have a CO2 concentrating mechanism which drives high rates of photosynthesis and improves resource use efficiency, thus potentially pushing them towards the edge of the LES. Here, we measured foliage morphology, structure, photosynthesis, and nutrient content for hundreds of genotypes of the C4 grass Miscanthus× giganteus grown in two common gardens over two seasons. We show substantial trait variations across M.× giganteus genotypes and robust genotypic trait relationships. Compared to the global LES, M.× giganteus genotypes had higher photosynthetic rates, lower stomatal conductance, and less nitrogen content, indicating greater water and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency in the C4 species. Additionally, tetraploid genotypes produced thicker leaves with greater leaf mass per area and lower leaf density than triploid genotypes. By expanding the LES relationships across C3 species to include C4 crops, these findings highlight that M.× giganteus occupies the boundary of the global LES and suggest the potential for ploidy to alter LES traits.",
keywords = "C photosynthesis, Ploidy, genotypic variation, leaf mass per area",
author = "Shuai Li and Moller, {Christopher A.} and Mitchell, {Noah G.} and Martin, {Duncan G.} and Sacks, {Erik J.} and Sampurna Saikia and Labonte, {Nicholas R.} and Baldwin, {Brian S.} and Morrison, {Jesse I.} and Ferguson, {John N.} and Leakey, {Andrew D.B.} and Ainsworth, {Elizabeth A.}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank Hannah Demler and Congying Wu for lab and field assistance. We also thank Drs. Jiayang Xie and Zhihai Zhang for statistical analyses and Drs. Christopher M. Montes and Anthony Digrado for helpful discussions. This work was funded by the DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research under Award Number DE‐SC0018420). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. This study was funded by U.S. Department of Energy, Grant/Award Number: DE‐SC0018420. Funding Information: We thank Hannah Demler and Congying Wu for lab and field assistance. We also thank Drs. Jiayang Xie and Zhihai Zhang for statistical analyses and Drs. Christopher M. Montes and Anthony Digrado for helpful discussions. This work was funded by the DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research under Award Number DE-SC0018420). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. This study was funded by U.S. Department of Energy, Grant/Award Number: DE-SC0018420. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors. Plant, Cell & Environment published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.",
year = "2022",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1111/pce.14433",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "45",
pages = "3462--3475",
journal = "Plant Cell and Environment",
issn = "0140-7791",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "12",
}