2023-2024: What dictates the response of leaf nitrogen to soil nitrogen supply?
We showed that leaf photosynthetic nitrogen demand drives how leaf nitrogen responds to soil nitrogen. In 26 global grasslands (NutNet), leaf N increased more in colder, drier sites. This insight can improve predictions of ecosystem carbon dynamics.
Plants use fungal partners to access nutrients. In low nitrogen soils, certain fungi help tap into organic sources. In high nitrogen soils, other fungi are more effective. Dry conditions and nutrient balance also plays a role.
The answer is yes— sunflower plants can meet increased leaf nitrogen demand in dry conditions when soil nitrogen is not limited. This ability influences the carbon costs of acquiring nutrients relative to water at both the leaf and whole-plant levels.
We are analyzing plant functional traits, species diversity, and productivity across 11 sites from west to east Texas to answer this question.
In collaboration with the University of Tennessee, we study plant species with dual mycorrhizal associations to understand how shifts in these partnerships are driven by soil nutrient conditions and how they affect the carbon costs of nutrient acquisition
We compared eight models from niche- to process-based types. Most predict major range loss for temperate trees in lowlands in France due to climate change. Disagreement, especially for broadleaf species, was linked to how models handle rising CO₂
2022-2023: How do plant pathogens affect photosynthesis processes?
Pathogens can reduce plant photosynthetic efficiency through different and complex pathways, please refer to the review published in Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions