Partitioning of phosphorus between biochemical and storage compounds in leaves follows a consistent pattern across four
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Partitioning of phosphorus between biochemical and storage compounds in leaves follows a consistent pattern across four Australian genera growing in native settings Maximilian McQuillan & Ronald J. Smernik Ashlea L. Doolette
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Received: 11 February 2020 / Accepted: 7 May 2020 # Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract Aims The aims of this study were to (i) assess how the P concentration in leaves of common Australian native plant species varies across a broad geographic region that includes naturally low to naturally high P status soils; and (ii) investigate whether there is a connection between P speciation and P concentration in these leaves. Methods An ecological transect along the western edge of the Great Dividing Range was sampled for soil and leaf material of four genera (Acacia, Callitris, Einadia and Eucalyptus). Soil and leaf samples were analysed for total P, while 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR) spectroscopy was used to determine P speciation in leaves. Results Soil P concentration was influenced by parent material, with soils developed on basalt particularly high in P. Leaf P concentration also varied, but this variation was poorly correlated with soil P concentration. Solution 31P NMR demonstrated uniformity in biochemical partitioning of leaf P. Concentrations of ‘biochemical’ organic P (phospholipid-P and RNA-P) in leaves were relatively constant at 200–300 mg kg−1, while concentrations of ‘storage’ P forms (orthophosphate-P and Responsible Editor: Hans Lambers. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04567-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. M. McQuillan : R. J. Smernik (*) : A. L. Doolette School of Agriculture, Food and Wine and Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Prescott Building, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia e-mail: [email protected]
phytate-P) increased with increasing total leaf P concentration and reached values >2000 mg kg−1. Conclusions These findings improve understanding of P cycling in native Australian ecosystems. Adaptation to the highest P sites resulted in accumulation of storage P forms, rather than down-regulating P uptake. At most sites, plants act as P pumps, shifting sparsely available P into the topsoil, by accumulating more P than they need and eventually shedding it in litter. Keywords Biochemical P partitioning . Phosphorus speciation . 31P NMR spectroscopy . Phytate . Ecophysiology
Introduction Phosphorus (P) is one of the most important elements on earth. Life would not be possible without it due to its intrinsic chemical characteristics, which make it indispensable in key biochemicals and biochemical reactions (Westheimer 1987; Smil 2000). Most notably, P is integral in holding together nucleotides as a bridging atom in the polymeric nucleic acids DNA and RNA and in bridging the hydrophobic and hydrophilic ends of phospholipids (Westheimer 1987) and is a key constituent in countless metab
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