title: Multielement stoichiometry in Quercus variabilis under natural phosphorus variation in subtropical China.
abstract: Plant stoichiometry in relation to environmental factors has recently received increasing attention. However, regulations and variations of plant elements in different environments are not well understood. We investigated homeostasis and variation of macroelements (C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S), essential microelements (Fe, Mn, and Zn) and non-essential elements (Al) in Quercus variabilis leaves at a range of natural P concentration from P-rich to P-deficient (typical subtropical conditions) soils. The results showed that element ratios were more stable (except for C:P and Mn:P) than individual element concentrations. Of the individual elements, protein-related elements (e.g. N, S, and Fe) were correlated with leaf P while non-protein elements (e.g. C, K, and Ca) were not. The degree of homeostasis indicated that macroelements (N, P, and Ca) concentrations were more variable than microelements (Mn, Zn, and Al) under a varying element concentration in soils. These results suggest that local P-rich geochemistry alters leaf element concentrations, but not element ratios, and that plants are capable of meeting their needs for elements in certain proportions to achieve optimal performance under varying elemental conditions.
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Center for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: College of Agro-grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Center for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Baoming
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Center for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China [2] Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South), Ministry of Agriculture, People's Republic of China, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Center for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China [2] Shanghai Urban Forest Research Station, State Forestry Administration, People's Republic of China, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China [3] Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South), Ministry of Agriculture, People's Republic of China, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Chunjiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D029963:Quercus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen