Source and sink activity of Holcus lanatus in response to absolute and relative supply of nitrogen and phosphorus

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Abstract

Mineral nutrients influence photosynthesis and tissue formation; a shift from nitrogen (N)-limited to phosphorus (P)-limited growth induced by high N deposition may change plant growth in terms of physiology and morphology. This experiment showed that absolute and relative N and P supply affected net photosynthesis (source activity) and biomass formation (sink activity), and the relationship between source and sink activities of Holcus lanatus L. under various nutrient treatments. H. lanatus was grown at three N:P ratios (5, 15, 45) with two absolute supply levels of N and P. Between N:P 5 at low level and N:P 45 at high level, and between N:P 45 at low level and N:P 5 at high level, there was a nine-fold difference in N and P supply. Maximum light-saturated net photosynthesis rate (Amax), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area, and shoot and root biomass were determined during and after the growth process. Amax was minimal at N:P 5 and increased only with increasing absolute N supply. Neither SLA nor leaf area were affected by N:P; increasing absolute P supply significantly increased leaf area. Shoot and root biomass were minimal at N:P 45 and increased dramatically with increasing absolute P supply. Plant biomass was not correlated with Amax. Our results highlight that H. lanatus growth is predominantly controlled by P supply and to a lesser extent by N, whereas net photosynthesis exerted no apparent control on growth under these sink-limited growth conditions. Our findings contribute to understanding of plant growth under sink-limited conditions.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)493-502
Number of pages10
JournalFunctional Plant Biology
Volume48
Issue number5
Early online date2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We acknowledge the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for a doctoral scholarship to Shuqiong Wang (CSC NO. 201406140142).We thank Roel Vonk for his helpful suggestions with cultivation. Ton Markus is acknowledged for improving the figures. The English of a near-final draft of the manuscript was checked professionally by Joy Burrough.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 CSIRO.

Keywords

  • Holcus lanatus L.
  • N:P supply ratio
  • biomass
  • grassland
  • greenhouse experiment
  • low relative nutrient supply
  • net photosynthesis

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