Seasonal dynamics and allocation patterns of foliar phosphorus fractions in deep-rooted desert species under phosphorus-poor environments
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Phosphorus (P) is vital for plant responses to climate change, influencing primary productivity. However, the seasonal variations of foliar phosphorus fractions (FPFs) in deep-rooted desert species are not well understood, especially in hyper-arid ecosystems with P-impoverished soils. Therefore, we investigated seasonal dynamics of Alhagi sparsifolia seedlings under four P-supply gradients (0, 1, 3 and 5 g P m−2 yr−1) in a 2-year open-air pot experiment. We quantified concentrations and proportions of key functional phosphorus forms (FPFs) metabolic P, structural P, nucleic acid P and residual P alongside leaf traits and soil properties across spring, summer and autumn. Findings showed notable seasonal variations: soil available P concentration decreased by 48.8% in summer compared with spring and autumn, while leaf total P concentration increased by 1.9%. Autumn exhibited higher specific leaf area, leaf P content per unit area and mass compared with spring and summer. Additionally, metabolic, structural and residual P concentrations rose significantly with increasing soil P-supply, while nucleic acid P decreased. FPF allocation varied seasonally, with summer showing increases in metabolic P (1.6% concentration, 1.9% allocation), nucleic acid P (5.0%, 4.2%) and structural P (4.0%, 2.9%) compared with spring. Similar comparisons with autumn revealed greater summer increases of 3.3% (0.4%), 7.7% (2.7%) and 5.5% (2.5%), respectively. FPF dynamics correlated more strongly with leaf traits than soil properties in spring and summer, but autumn weakened these associations. This study highlights the seasonal allocation patterns and their role in the adaptation of desert plants to poor-P conditions.
Source: Journal of Plant Ecology
DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtaf173
Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centre for Research on Ecology and Forestry Applications, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, University of Tabuk
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,190
Funders: Fundación Ramón Areces, Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Province, European Commission, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang, Agencia Estatal de Investigación
OpenAlex ID: W4415303552