Premium
Effects of stem fraction on the optimization of biomass allocation and maximum photosynthetic capacity
Author(s) -
Osone Y.,
Tateno M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
functional ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2435
pISSN - 0269-8463
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2435.2003.00763.x
Subject(s) - biology , photosynthesis , stem and leaf display , photosynthetic capacity , biomass (ecology) , fraction (chemistry) , botany , temperate climate , nitrogen , specific leaf area , main stem , horticulture , agronomy , chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
Summary1 A model was developed to examine effects of the stem biomass fraction on the optimal responses of plants to soil nitrogen availability. 2 Our model predicts that the optimal leaf : root ratio and optimal photosynthetic capacity ( P max ) increase with soil N availability. For a given N availability, the optimal leaf : root ratio decreases and the optimal P max increases with increasing stem fraction. As a result, the increase in optimal leaf : root ratio is smaller, and that in optimal P max is greater, in response to increasing N availability when stem fraction is large. 3 To test these predictions we grew two herbs with different stem fractions: Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. and Chenopodium album L . Showing excellent agreement with the simulation results, the leaf N concentration and leaf : root ratio of the two herbs increased with increasing N availability, and leaf N concentration was larger for C. album with higher stem fraction than P. cuspidatum . 4 The general tendency for plants with larger stem fractions also to have greater leaf N concentrations and P max was demonstrated for a wide range of temperate herbs. This suggests that stem fraction may be a source of variation in P max among plants in the same functional group.