Impact of multiple global change factors on traits of mycorrhizal plants

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2025.0226

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims As human activities continue to intensify, the strength of environmental factors affecting global ecosystems has gradually increased, and multiple factors often change simultaneously within a single ecosystem, collectively influencing plant performance. However, with the increasing number of global change factors, the trend of changes in key functional traits of mycorrhizal plants remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of multiple global change factors on the functional traits of ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal plants.

Methods This study employed a pot-controlled experimental approach, using seedlings of six locally common mycorrhizal plant species as subjects to investigate the effects of varying numbers of global change factors on the functional traits of two types of mycorrhizal plants. The experiment included a control treatment (0 factor) and four treatments consisting of combinations of 1, 2, 4, and 8 factors. After one year of treatment, measurements were taken of plant photosynthetic rate, as well as leaf and root trait indicators, to evaluate the impact of the number of global change factors on plant functional traits.

Important findings The results showed that, with increasing numbers of global change factors, photosynthetic, aboveground, and belowground functional traits exhibit linear or nonlinear changes depending on mycorrhizal types and plant species. The linear relationship between plant functional traits and the number of global change factors may reflect additive effects of multi-factor interactions, while nonlinear relationships likely result from non-additive interactions (synergistic or antagonistic effects) among the factors. These findings highlight the complex influence of global change factors on plant functional traits, as well as the unique responses of different species to environmental pressures. The results provide valuable experimental insights into the response patterns of plant traits under increasing numbers of global change factors, offering a basis for understanding and mitigating the impacts of intensified global change.

Key words: global change factor, plant functional trait, ecto-mycorrhizal plant, arbuscular mycorrhizal plant, Hainan

DUAN Jian-Lin, MENG Sheng, CHEN Ren-Li, XIONG Lin-Feng, LU Chun-Yang, XI Nian-Xun. Impact of multiple global change factors on traits of mycorrhizal plants[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2026, 50(4): 907-916.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2025.0226

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2026/V50/I4/907

Figures/Tables 4

References 28

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植物性状 Plant trait		因子数目 GCF number	物种 Species	因子数目×物种 GCF number × species
	df	4	5	20
净光合速率 Net photosynthetic rate	F	1.451	26.999	2.230
净光合速率 Net photosynthetic rate	p	0.219	<0.001	0.003
蒸腾速率 Transpiration rate	F	2.563	28.548	2.196
蒸腾速率 Transpiration rate	p	0.300	<0.001	0.004
气孔导度 Stomatal conductance	F	2.022	37.362	2.051
气孔导度 Stomatal conductance	p	0.357	<0.001	0.007
叶干物质含量 Leaf dry matter content	F	0.424	48.665	1.007
叶干物质含量 Leaf dry matter content	p	0.788	<0.001	0.452
比叶面积 Specific leaf area	F	0.592	55.726	2.075
比叶面积 Specific leaf area	p	0.672	<0.001	0.004
比根长 Specific root length	F	0.245	70.909	1.854
比根长 Specific root length	p	0.909	<0.001	0.014
细根直径 Fine root diameter	F	0.299	142.703	0.849
细根直径 Fine root diameter	p	0.879	<0.001	0.653
根组织密度 Root tissue density	F	0.241	17.394	1.862
根组织密度 Root tissue density	p	0.912	<0.001	0.014
叶片氮含量 Leaf nitrogen content	F	1.719	75.591	2.113
叶片氮含量 Leaf nitrogen content	p	0.358	<0.001	0.004
叶片磷含量 Leaf phosphorus content	F	6.345	31.508	7.609
叶片磷含量 Leaf phosphorus content	p	0.002	<0.001	<0.001

植物性状 Plant trait		因子数目 GCF number	物种 Species	因子数目×物种 GCF number × species
	df	4	5	20
净光合速率 Net photosynthetic rate	F	1.451	26.999	2.230
净光合速率 Net photosynthetic rate	p	0.219	<0.001	0.003
蒸腾速率 Transpiration rate	F	2.563	28.548	2.196
蒸腾速率 Transpiration rate	p	0.300	<0.001	0.004
气孔导度 Stomatal conductance	F	2.022	37.362	2.051
气孔导度 Stomatal conductance	p	0.357	<0.001	0.007
叶干物质含量 Leaf dry matter content	F	0.424	48.665	1.007
叶干物质含量 Leaf dry matter content	p	0.788	<0.001	0.452
比叶面积 Specific leaf area	F	0.592	55.726	2.075
比叶面积 Specific leaf area	p	0.672	<0.001	0.004
比根长 Specific root length	F	0.245	70.909	1.854
比根长 Specific root length	p	0.909	<0.001	0.014
细根直径 Fine root diameter	F	0.299	142.703	0.849
细根直径 Fine root diameter	p	0.879	<0.001	0.653
根组织密度 Root tissue density	F	0.241	17.394	1.862
根组织密度 Root tissue density	p	0.912	<0.001	0.014
叶片氮含量 Leaf nitrogen content	F	1.719	75.591	2.113
叶片氮含量 Leaf nitrogen content	p	0.358	<0.001	0.004
叶片磷含量 Leaf phosphorus content	F	6.345	31.508	7.609
叶片磷含量 Leaf phosphorus content	p	0.002	<0.001	<0.001