AUTHOR=Jiang Dechun , Gong Haiyang , Niklas Karl J. , Wang Zhiqiang 

TITLE=Allocation of nitrogen and phosphorus in the leaves, stems, and roots of Artemisia: a case study in phylogenetic control

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 15 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1445831

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1445831

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=The allocation of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) among plant organs is an important strategy affecting growth and development as well as ecological processes in terrestrial ecosystems. However, due to lack of systematic investigation data, the allocation strategies of N and P in the three primary plant organs (e.g., leaves, stems and roots) are still unclear. A total of 912 individuals of 62 Artemisia species were examined across a broad environmental expanse in China, and the N and P concentrations of leaves, stems, and roots were measured to explore the allocation strategies in different subgenera, ecosystem types, and local sites. The average values of N concentration in leaves, stems and roots were 24.25, 7.26, and 7.53 mg/g, respectively; the average values of P concentration were 2.07, 1.17 and 1.04 mg/g, respectively; and the average values of N:P ratios were 11.74, 6.19 and 7.23, respectively. Across all 62 species, the N vs. P scaling exponents for leaves, stems and roots were 0.67, 0.59 and 0.67, respectively. However, these numerical values differed among subgenera, ecosystem types, and local sites. Overall, the numerical values of N vs. P scaling exponents comply with a 2/3-power function for each Artemisia organ-type reflecting a phylogenetically conserved allocation strategy that has nevertheless diversified with respect to local environmental conditions. These results inform our understanding of N and P stoichiometric patterns and responses to abiotic factors in an ecologically broadly distributed angiosperm genus.