Significance of the localization of phosphorus among tissues on a cross-section of leaf lamina of Bornean tree species for phosphorus-use efficiency

• Published in: Journal of tropical ecology Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 237 - 240
• Main Authors: Tsujii, Yuki, Oikawa, Masakazu, Kitayama, Kanehiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.05.2017
• Subjects: Borneo; Cross-sections; Ecology; Efficiency; Forests; Laminates; Leaves; Localization; Mesophyll; Phosphorus; Photosynthesis; Plant species; Plant tissues; Productivity; Rainforests; SHORT COMMUNICATION; Soil fertility; Spatial distribution; Trees; Tropical forests; Mount Kinabalu; Borneo; Japan; phosphorus deficiency; micro-PIXE; photosynthesis; tropical forest; anatomical structure; foliar-element distribution; phosphorus-use efficiency
• ISSN: 0266-4674; 1469-7831; 1469-7831
• DOI: 10.1017/S0266467417000141

A greater relative allocation of phosphorus (P) to photosynthetically active cells functions to maintain a rapid photosynthesis under P limitation, and may be a key mechanism of plants to use P efficiently. This mechanism has not been studied in tropical trees despite the productivity of tropical forests often being limited by P. In this study, the spatial distribution of P among tissues on a cross-section of leaf lamina was analysed for 13 tree species from P-limited sites on Mount Kinabalu, Borneo. Most species showed greater P concentration in palisade mesophyll than in spongy mesophyll and epidermal tissues, suggesting that tropical trees under P limitation localize foliar P in photosynthetic palisade mesophyll.