The influence of biofertilizers on leaf economics spectrum traits in a herbaceous crop.
J Exp Bot
; 73(22): 7552-7563, 2022 12 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36103721
ABSTRACT
Microbial inoculations or 'biofertilizers' represent novel contributions to sustainable agriculture. While belowground mechanisms surrounding how biofertilizers enhance crop production are well described, their role in aboveground trait expression remains less well explored. We quantified infraspecific variation in leaf economics spectrum (LES) traits in response to 10 biofertilizer treatments in basil (Ocimum basiclicum) cultivated under hydroponic conditions. Multiple physiological (i.e. maximum photosynthesis rates (A), dark respiration (R), and leaf-level light compensation points) and morphological (i.e. leaf mass per area (LMA) and leaf thickness) traits varied significantly across microbial treatments. Following treatments, basil plants differentiated from one another along an infraspecific LES, with certain plants expressing more resource-acquiring LES trait values (i.e. high A, R, leaf N, and low LMA), versus others that expressed the opposite suite of resource-conserving LES trait values. Infraspecific trait covariation largely matched LES patterns observed among plants globally. Bivariate and multivariate trait analyses further revealed that certain treatments-namely those including closely related Bacillus and Brevibacillus species strains-increased leaf resource capture traits such as A and leaf N. Biofertilizers influence plant performance through a role in moderating infraspecific leaf trait variation, thereby suggesting aboveground leaf traits may be used to diagnose optimal biofertilizer formulations in basil and other crops.
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Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Folhas de Planta
Tipo de estudo:
Health_economic_evaluation
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Exp Bot
Assunto da revista:
BOTANICA
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Canadá