Study on the variation of functional traits and environmental driving factors of different species origins of Acer truncatum in the Horqin Sandy Land

Abstract

Abstract [Objective] The study of the functional trait variation and environmental drivers of woody oilseed plants in different origins is of great significance for the construction of core breeding populations and the selection of improved seeds. [Methods] In this study, the functional traits of leaves and seeds and the soil physicochemical properties were determined for the three of the largest existing natural forests of Acer truncatum in China, including Udantara, Pine Mountain, and Dai Chintara, which were distributed around the Horqin Sandy Land. The methods of ANOVA, correlation analysis, RDA ranking analysis, and PLSSEM model were used to study the variation of functional traits and the correlation between traits and the environment in different origins in Horqin, and explore the relationship between functional traits and environmental factors of A . truncatum . [Results] (1) The differences in each functional trait of the three A . truncatum were obvious, and the coefficient of variation of each trait was as follows: Specific leaf area (SLA) > oleic acid content (OA) > seed aspect ratio (ZC∶ZK) > carbon-nitrogen ratio (C∶N) > nerve acid content (NA) > seed oil content (OC) > linoleic acid content (LOA) > leaf carbon content (LCC). The inter-source coefficient of variation ranged from 3.81%-19.51% while the intra-source variation coefficient ranged from 3.60%-14.64%; the inter-source variation was greater than the intra-source variation. (2) Among the three source areas, the content of oil and linoleic acid was the highest in the Dai Chintara area, and the highest content of nerve acid in the Udantara area. (3) The correlation results showed that there was a significant correlation between the functional traits of A . truncatum and environmental factors. (4) The RDA analysis showed that environmental factors could explain 24.1% of the functional trait variation of A . truncatum . Soil organic matter (SOM) and temperature seasonal coefficient of variation (BIO-4) were the dominant ecological factors. Mmeteorology and soil jointly determined the variation of A . truncatum functional traits, in which meteorological factors played a leading role. (5) The PLS-SEM model showed that the path coefficient between the leaf and seed traits and the oil index of A . truncatum was small, where the synergy effect was not significant. The average annual temperature was the main influencing factor of the oil-related indexes of A . truncatum fat, and its correlation with oil showed a negative correlation, suggesting that the lower temperature was conducive to the accumulation of solid oil of A . truncatum seed. [Conclusion] This study found that meteorology is the dominant environmental factor driving the variation of functional traits of A . truncatum , and temperature is the key factor determining the solid oil content of A . truncatum seeds, which may provide a basis for the cultivation of A . truncatum for oil production.

Keywords

• acer truncatum
• functional traits
• environmental factors