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Intrapopulation genotypic variation in leaf litter chemistry does not control microbial abundance and litter mass loss in silver birch, Betula pendula

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Abstract

Background and aims

Differences among plant genotypes can influence ecosystem functioning such as the rate of litter decomposition. Little is known, however, of the strength of genotypic links between litter quality, microbial abundance and litter decomposition within plant populations, or the likelihood that these processes are driven by natural selection.

Methods

We used 19 Betula pendula genotypes randomly selected from a local population in south-eastern Finland to establish a long-term, 35-month litter decomposition trial on forest ground. We analysed the effect of litter quality (N, phenolics and triterpenoids) of senescent leaves and decomposed litter on microbial abundance and litter mass loss.

Results

We found that while litter quality and mass loss both had significant genotypic variation, the genotypic variation among silver birch trees in the quantity of bacterial and fungal DNA was marginal. In addition, although the quantity of bacterial DNA at individual tree level was negatively associated with most secondary metabolites of litter and positively with litter N, litter chemistry was not genotypically linked to litter mass loss.

Conclusions

Contrary to our expectations, these results suggest that natural selection may have limited influence on overall microbial DNA and litter decomposition rate in B. pendula populations by reworking the genetically controlled foliage chemistry of these populations.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Hanni Sikanen and Eeva Somerkoski for their help in the field work, Kaisa Soikkeli for her help in the laboratory work and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. The study was funded by the Academy of Finland (decision #1122444).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Niemenkatu 73, FI-15140, Lahti, Finland

    Tarja Silfver, Merja Kontro, Ulla Paaso, Heini Karvinen & Juha Mikola

  2. Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Kuopio Campus, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Tarja Silfver

  3. Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Joensuu Campus, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, FI-80111, Joensuu, Finland

    Sarita Keski-Saari & Markku Keinänen

  4. Vantaa Research Unit, Natural Resources Institute Finland, FI-01301, Vantaa, Finland

    Matti Rousi

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  1. Tarja Silfver
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Correspondence to Tarja Silfver.

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Silfver, T., Kontro, M., Paaso, U. et al. Intrapopulation genotypic variation in leaf litter chemistry does not control microbial abundance and litter mass loss in silver birch, Betula pendula. Plant Soil 426, 253–266 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-018-3631-8

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