Chlorophyll pigment and needle macronutrient responses and interactions to soil moisture and atmospheric CO2 treatments of eight pine and spruce species

Abstract Key message Large differences were detected between genera and among species in chlorophyll pigment macronutrient concentrations. Pines have greater variances than spruces showed less downregulation of concentrations response to eCO 2 DRT. There was strong genetic control pigments most macronutrients. Chlorophyll needle quantified for eight tree two commercially important genera, Pinus Picea grown a × factorial atmospheric CO (370 740 ppm) soil moisture stress (− 0.1 − 0.5 0.7 1.0 MPa) treatments. Four the pines three are native eastern North America, while fourth spruce, Norway spruce (NS: abies ), is from Europe but has been widely used reforestation northeastern America. Overall, had significantly , b (CHL CHL total concentration (TCC) carotenoid (CAR) pines. Ambient (aCO ) TCC elevated (eCO CAR downregulated more . equal or drought treatment (DRT) well-watered treatment, whereas lower values Needle N, P Ca N declined both increased Using biomass as covariate, no pines; slight positive increasing biomass. Covariate analysis that significant relationship Mg, with given N. Photosynthetic quantum efficiency (QE), derived light curves, TCC. convexity also TCC, indicating sharper curvature compared progressive curve spruce. Pine species. While strobus (white pine, subgenus Strobus stands out having nutrient other (subgenus ).