Leaf manganese accumulation and phosphorus-acquisition efficiency

• Published in: Trends in plant science Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 83 - 90
• Main Authors: Lambers, Hans, Hayes, Patrick E., Laliberté, Etienne, Oliveira, Rafael S., Turner, Benjamin L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2015
• Subjects: carboxylates; Carboxylic Acids - metabolism; Ecosystem; exudation; Genotype; habitats; leaves; manganese; Manganese - metabolism; phosphorus; Phosphorus - metabolism; phosphorus-acquisition efficiency; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plant Physiological Phenomena - genetics; soil; Soil - chemistry; carboxylates; exudation; manganese; phosphorus-acquisition efficiency; phosphorus
• ISSN: 1360-1385; 1878-4372; 1878-4372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2014.10.007

•Plants that use a phosphorus (P)-mobilising strategy based on carboxylate release tend to have high leaf manganese concentrations ([Mn]).•This occurs because the carboxylates mobilise not only soil inorganic and organic P, but also a range of micronutrients, including Mn.•We propose that leaf [Mn] can be used to select for genotypes that are more efficient at acquiring P, when soil P availability is low.•Likewise, leaf [Mn] can be used to screen for belowground functional traits related to nutrient-acquisition strategies among species in low-P habitats. Plants that deploy a phosphorus (P)-mobilising strategy based on the release of carboxylates tend to have high leaf manganese concentrations ([Mn]). This occurs because the carboxylates mobilise not only soil inorganic and organic P, but also a range of micronutrients, including Mn. Concentrations of most other micronutrients increase to a small extent, but Mn accumulates to significant levels, even when plants grow in soil with low concentrations of exchangeable Mn availability. Here, we propose that leaf [Mn] can be used to select for genotypes that are more efficient at acquiring P when soil P availability is low. Likewise, leaf [Mn] can be used to screen for belowground functional traits related to nutrient-acquisition strategies among species in low-P habitats.