Age dependent partitioning patterns of essential nutrients induced by copper feeding status in leaves and stems of poplar

Authors: Hunter, Cameron; STEWART, JARED - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); Gleason, Sean; PILON, MARINUS - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Frontiers in Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/27/2022
Publication Date: 7/5/2022
Citation: Hunter, C., Stewart, J.J., Gleason, S.M., Pilon, M. 2022. Age dependent partitioning patterns of essential nutrients induced by copper feeding status in leaves and stems of poplar. Frontiers in Plant Science. 13. Article e930344. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.930344.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.930344

Interpretive Summary: Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient, and its deficiency can cause plants to undergo metabolic changes at several levels of organization. It has been shown that leaf age can play a role in nutrient partitioning along the shoot axis of poplar. In this study, we investigated the effect of Cu deficiency on the altered partitioning of essential macro and micronutrients in leaves and stems of different age. Our results indicate Cu deficiency caused relatively higher concentrations of calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, zinc, manganese, and molybdenum in leaves and relatively higher concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc in stems. Two-way ANOVAs revealed that leaf and stem age had significant effects on nutrient partitioning. Additionally, principal component analyses revealed patterns that point to inverse influences in leaves and stems on nutrient partitioning. Specifically, these analyses revealed nutrient partitioning in leaves was influenced by Cu feeding status more than developmental stage, whereas nutrient partitioning in stems was influenced by developmental stage more than Cu feeding status. These results suggest that Cu deficiency and developmental stage can significantly influence the partitioning and homeostasis of macro and micronutrients in poplar tissues. A better understanding of nutrient interactions and partitioning within the plant should facilitate efforts to improve agricultural sustainability as well as nutritional quality of agricultural products, especially in areas with soil micronutrient deficiencies.

Technical Abstract: Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient, and its deficiency can cause plants to undergo metabolic changes at several levels of organization. It has been shown that leaf age can play a role in nutrient partitioning along the shoot axis of poplar. In this study, we investigated the effect of Cu deficiency on the altered partitioning of essential macro and micronutrients in leaves and stems of different age. Our results indicate Cu deficiency caused relatively higher concentrations of calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, zinc, manganese, and molybdenum in leaves and relatively higher concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc in stems. Two-way ANOVAs revealed that leaf and stem age had significant effects on nutrient partitioning. Additionally, principal component analyses revealed patterns that point to inverse influences in leaves and stems on nutrient partitioning. Specifically, these analyses revealed nutrient partitioning in leaves was influenced by Cu feeding status more than developmental stage, whereas nutrient partitioning in stems was influenced by developmental stage more than Cu feeding status. These results suggest that Cu deficiency and developmental stage can significantly influence the partitioning and homeostasis of macro and micronutrients in poplar tissues.