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. 2020 Sep 16:8:e9935.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9935. eCollection 2020.

Seasonal variations in leaf and branch trace elements and the influence of a 3-yr 100% rainfall exclusion on Pinus massoniana Lamb

Tian Lin  1   2 , Xuanmei Zheng  3 , Huaizhou Zheng  2
Affiliations

Seasonal variations in leaf and branch trace elements and the influence of a 3-yr 100% rainfall exclusion on Pinus massoniana Lamb

Tian Lin et al. PeerJ. .

Abstract

Background: Trace elements are essential for the growth and survival of plants, and their concentrations and distributions in plants are effective reflections of ecological adaptation strategies. However, this aspect has seldom been addressed.

Method: Changes in the leaf and branch trace elements of Pinus massoniana Lamb, induced by seasonal dynamics and in response to a 3-yr 100% rainfall exclusion, were evaluated.

Results: The results showed that the concentrations of Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni and Cr in leaves of P. massoniana in the control group had high seasonal resolution. There were three groups according to their patterns over the growing season: (1) nutrient elements (Cu, Zn, Ni and Cd), which continuously decreased in concentration during the growing season, with the highest concentration in spring and the lowest in autumn; (2) accumulating element (Cr), which increased in concentration from spring to autumn; and (3) indifferent element (Fe), which increased in concentration from spring to summer and decreased in concentration from summer to autumn. The concentrations of trace elements in leaves and branches showed no significant differences with mild drought stress, except for Fe and Cr in leaves and Cr in branches, which significantly increased (p < 0.05) under the result of self-selection under mild drought stress. Therefore, the resultant seasonal and drought effects on trace element cycling in P. massoniana could provide theoretical support to respond to future climate change.

Keywords: Rainfall exclusion; Trace elements; P. massoniana; Seasonal variations.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare there are no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Map of the study area.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Bagnouls–Gaussen bioclimatic diagram.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Seasonal variation of soil moisture content under different treatment in the study period.
(A) In the control group. (B) In the drought group. S, spring; LS, late summer; A, autumn; W, winter.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Monthly patterns of dawn leaf water potentials from April 2013 to March 2014.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Leaf trace element concentrations of Zn, Cu, Fe, Ni, Cr, Cd under different treatments (mean ± SD).
(A) Zn. (B) Cu. (C) Fe. (D) Ni. (E) Cr. (F) Cd. S, spring; Ls, late summer; A, autumn; W, winter.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Principal component analyses of seasonal samples of P. massoniana leaves based on trace element concentrations in the control group.
(A) Correlation of variables. (B) Time scatter-plot of observations. C1032 = day 1032 in the control group.
Figure 7
Figure 7. Branch trace element concentrations of Zn, Cu, Fe, Ni, Cr, Cd under different treatments (mean ± SD).
(A) Zn. (B) Cu. (C) Fe. (D) Ni. (E) Cr. (F) Cd. S, spring; Ls, late summer; A, autumn; W, winter.
Figure 8
Figure 8. Principal component analyses of seasonal samples of P. massoniana branches based on trace element concentrations in the control group.
(A) Correlation of variables. (B) Time scatter-plot of observations. C1032 = day 1032 in the control group.
Figure 9
Figure 9. Principal component analyses of P. massoniana leaves based on trace element concentrations in different treatments.
PC1 × PC2 time scatter-plot of observations. c1032 = day 1032 in the control group. d1032 = day 1032 in the drought group.
Figure 10
Figure 10. Principal component analyses of P. massoniana branches based on trace element concentrations in different treatments.
PC1 × PC2 time scatter-plot of observations. c1032 = day 1032 in the control group. d1032 = day 1032 in the drought group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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