Correlation of Leaf and Root Traits of Two Angiosperm Tree Species in Northeast China under Contrasting Light and Nitrogen Availabilities

Light and nitrogen availability are among the most important environmental factors influencing leaf root morphological traits forest ecosystems. Understanding variation in is pivotal to adaptive plasticity leaf-root-specific response low light N availability. The effects of on their interrelations still not clear. We aimed measure a temperate region. Thus, factorial experiment was conducted with two angiosperm tree species under (L+, L−) (N−, N+) levels. Results showed that density (LD) mass per area (LMA) increased, while thickness (LT) decreased Under availability, LD LMA decreased, LT increased sun-exposed plots remained stable across species. diameter, length, specific length (SRL), (SRA) tissue (TD) Root SRA, SRL TD N+ L+ L− plots. were significantly positively correlated negatively TD. However, observed has plant biomass fraction (RMF) (LMF), stem (SMF) stable―indicating shade in-tolerances both Correlation analyses revealed LMF generally, particularly conditions, less related traits, RMF frequently leave all conditions. This illustrates divergent regulation above below ground varying allocation patterns.