Source and sink activity of Holcus lanatus in response to absolute and relative supply of nitrogen and phosphorus
Shuqiong Wang
A B , Jerry van Dijk A , Hugo J. de Boer A and Martin J. Wassen A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, PO Box 80115, 3508 TC Utrecht, the Netherlands.
B Corresponding author. Email: s.wang@uu.nl
Functional Plant Biology 48(5) 493-502 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP20118
Submitted: 29 April 2020 Accepted: 10 December 2020 Published: 18 January 2021
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.
Keywords: biomass, grassland, greenhouse experiment, Holcus lanatus L., low relative nutrient supply, net photosynthesis, N:P supply ratio.
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