Leaf Morphology Genes SRL1 and RENL1 Co-Regulate Cellulose Synthesis and Affect Rice Drought Tolerance

The morphological development of rice(Oryza sativa L.)leaves is closely related to plant architecture,physiological activities,and resistance.However,it is unclear whether there is a co-regulatory relationship between the morphological development of leaves and adaptation to drought environment.In this study,a drought-sensitive,roll-enhanced,and narrow-leaf mutant(renl1)was induced from a semi-rolled leaf mutant(srl1)by ethyl methane sulfonate(EMS),which was obtained from Nipponbare(NPB)through EMS.Map-based cloning and functional validation showed that RENL1 encodes a cellulose synthase,allelic to NRL1/OsCLSD4.The RENL1 mutation resulted in reduced vascular bundles,vesicular cells,cellulose,and hemicellulose contents in cell walls,diminishing the water-holding capacity of leaves.In addition,the root system of the renl1 mutant was poorly developed and its ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species(ROS)was decreased,leading to an increase in ROS after drought stress.Meanwhile,genetic results showed that RENL1 and SRL1 synergistically regulated cell wall components.Our results revealed a theoretical basis for further elucidating the molecular regulation mechanism of cellulose on rice drought tolerance,and provided a new genetic resource for enhancing the synergistic regulation network of plant type and stress resistance,thereby realizing simultaneous improvement of multiple traits in rice.

Soybean Leaf Morphology Classification Based on FPN-SSD and Knowledge Distillation

Soybean leaf morphology is one of the most important morphological and biological characteristics of soybean.The germplasm gene differences of soybeans can lead to different phenotypic traits,among which soybean leaf morphology is an important parameter that directly reflects the difference in soybean germplasm.To realize the morphological classification of soybean leaves,a method was proposed based on deep learning to automatically detect soybean leaves and classify leaf morphology.The morphology of soybean leaves included lanceolate,oval,ellipse and round.First,an image collection platform was designed to collect images of soybean leaves.Then,the feature pyramid networks–single shot multibox detector(FPN-SSD)model was proposed to detect the top leaflets of soybean leaves on the collected images.Finally,a classification model based on knowledge distillation was proposed to classify different morphologies of soybean leaves.The obtained results indicated an overall classification accuracy of 0.956 over a private dataset of 3200 soybean leaf images,and the accuracy of classification for each morphology was 1.00,0.97,0.93 and 0.94.The results showed that this method could effectively classify soybean leaf morphology and had great application potential in analyzing other phenotypic traits of soybean.

Mutation in a novel gene SMALL AND CORDATELEAF 1 affects leaf morphology in cucumber

Plant species exhibit substantial variation in leaf morphology.VWe isolated a recessive mutant gene termed small and cordate leaf 1（sclh）that causes alteration in both leaf size and shape of cucumber.Compared to wild type leaves,the sclh mutant had fewer numbers of epidermal pavement cells.A single nucleotide polymorphism was associated with this leaf phenotype,which occurred in a putative nucleoside bisphosphate phosphatase.RNA-seq analysis of the wild type and sclh mutant leaves suggested that SCL;regulation may not involve known hormonal pathways.Our work identified a candidate gene for SCL;that may play a role in leaf development.

Biogeographic divergence in leaf traits of Sapindus mukorossi and Sapindus delavayi and its relation to climate

To explore differences in leaf morphology between Sapindus mukorossi and Sapindus delavayi,and how the environment might drive these differences,80 germplasm samples from the Sapindus germplasm nursery in Fujian Province were selected.The study revealed a wide variation and diversity in 16 germplasm traits,both within and between species grown under the same conditions.On average,the relative contribution of intraspecific variability to total variability was more important(83%) than the relative contribution of interspecific variability(17%).PERMANOVA analysis showed differences in leaflet thickness,length,perimeter,length to width ratio,and leaf hairs or trichome density.Correlation analyses between leaf morphological traits and environmental variables indicated that leaves tended to be larger,longer,and thicker in wetter,warmer,and low-altitude conditions.Our analysis of the relationship between climate and leaf morphology revealed that S.mukorossi had a greater sensitivity to climate variation,particularly in response to mean temperatures of the coldest and warmest seasons,which led to differences in leaf traits and the distribution of the two species.These findings contribute to the understanding of leaf morphology variations in S.mukorossi and S.delavayi,and provide a basis for the collection of Sapindus germplasm resources,their cultivation and use to help address climate change.

Higher leaf area through leaf width and lower leaf angle were the primary morphological traits for yield advantage of japonica/indica hybrids

The yield potential of japonica/indica hybrids(JIH)has been achieved over 13.5 t ha–1 in large-scale rice fields,and some physiological traits for yield advantage of JIH over japonica inbred rice(JI)and indica hybrid rice(IH)were also identified.To date,little attention has been paid to morphological traits for yield advantage of JIH over JI and IH.For this reason,three JIH,three JI,and three IH were field-grown at East China(Ningbo,Zhejiang Province)in 2015 and 2016.Compared with JI and IH,JIH had 14.3 and 20.8%higher grain yield,respectively,attributed to its more spikelets per panicle and relatively high percentage of filled grains.The advantage in spikelets per panicle of JIH over JI and IH was shown in number of grains on the upper,middle,and lower branches.Compared with JI and IH,JIH had higher leaf area through leaf width and lower leaf angle of upper three leaves,higher leaf area index and leaf area per tiller at heading and maturity stages,higher stem weight per tiller and K and Si concentrations of stem at maturity,higher dry matter weight in leaf,stem,and panicle at heading and maturity stages,and higher biomass accumulation after heading and lower biomass translocation from stem during ripening.Leaf width of upper three leaves were correlated positively,while leaf angle of upper three leaves were correlated negatively with biomass accumulation after heading,stem weight per tiller,and per unit length.Our results indicated that the grain yield advantage of JIH was ascribed mainly to the more spikelets per panicle and relatively high percentage of filled grains.Higher leaf area through leaf width and more erect leaves were associated with improved biomass accumulation and stem weighing during ripening,and were the primary morphological traits underlying higher grain yield of JIH.

Influence of Rice Genotypes on Folding and Spinning Behaviour of Leaffolder(Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) and Its Interaction with Leaf Damage

Folding and spinning behavior of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis （Guenee） （Lepidoptera： Pyralidae） in different categories of rice genotypes viz., resistant, susceptible, hybrid, scented, popular and wild rice genotypes were significantly different. Longer leaf selection time and folding time per primary fold; shorter primary fold and whole leaf fold; lower number of binds per primary fold and whole leaf fold were recorded in resistant and wild rice genotypes. In the correlation analysis, it was found that the leaf folding parameters were positively correlated to leaf folder damage whereas the leaf spinning parameters were negatively correlated. Similarly, the morphological characters differed significantly among the chosen genotypes and were related to leaffolder damage. The leaf width and total productive tiller number were positively correlated to leaffolder infestation. Results also indicated that the trichome density and length, leaf length and plant height might contribute to resistance whereas total number of green leaves had no effect on leaffolder infestation. In the scatter plot analysis between leaf folding and spinning characters and leaffolder damage, the genotypes were separated into four groups viz., resistant （TKM6, Ptb 33, LFR831311, Oryza rhizomatis and O. minuta）, moderately resistant （ASD16 and CORH1）, moderately susceptible （ADT36, Pusa Basmati and CB200290） and susceptible （IR36 and TN1）. The present investigation proved that the leaf morphology viz., leaf length and width, plant height and trichome density and length may play a vital role in resistance against rice leaffolder.

Intraspecific leaf morphological variation in Quercus dentata Thunb.:a comparison of traditional and geometric morphometric methods,a pilot study

To compare the application of traditional morphometric methods(TMMs)and geometric morphometric methods(GMMs)in the study of intraspecific leaf morphological characters of Quercus dentata,fifteen linear measurement indices and thirteen landmarks of leaves were used to study leaf morphology of three provenances(H1,H2,and H3).In TMMs,principal component analysis(PCA)showed that leaf size–related indices played an important role in population classification.Partial least square(PLS)analysis showed that the main morphological characters affecting leaf size were the average depth of the lobes and the length–width ratios.However,the important indices to distinguish the provenances were circularity,leaf width,and length–width ratio.The results of discriminant analysis(DA)showed that 74.0%of H1,68.0%of H2,and 74.0%of H3 were correctly classified.Cluster analysis showed that the Mahalanobis distances between H1 and H2,H1 and H3,and H2 and H3 were 4.3761,11.4629,and 10.2067,respectively.In GMMs,PCA based on symmetrical components showed that the difference in leaf morphology was mainly due to the changing trend of the leaf apex and base,petiole length,and degree of leaf cracking.PLS analysis showed that there was a significant covariation between the leaf symmetrical components and size:as the leaf enlarged,the widest part gradually moved up,and the shape changed from nearly oval to lanceolate.DA results showed that 86.0%and 78.0%of H1 and H2,70.0%and 80.0%of H1 and H3,and 82.0%and 76.0%of H2 and H3 were correctly classified.Canonical variate analysis results showed that the Mahalanobis distances between H1 and H2,H1 and H3,and H2 and H3 were 1.7238,1.5380,and 1.6329,respectively.Both GMMs and TMMs showed significant differences in morphology among the three Q.dentata provenances,but GMMs had higher classification accuracy and could provide more information about leaf shape,whereas TMMs could provide more information about leaf size.Based on our results,GMMs are promising in the study of leaf morphological variation within Q.dentata provenances.

Studies on Diversity of Leaf Morphological Traits of Plants Regenerated from ＂Miniature Seeds＂ in Loquat

The genetic diversity of 79 accessions regenerated from ＂miniature seeds＂ of loquat （Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. cv. ＇Dawuxing＇） was analyzed based on 13 morphological characteristics of leaves in this study, in order to provide important morphological basis for breeding new varieties and materials through ＂miniature seed＂ breeding method in loquat. The results showed that there was abundant genetic diversity in leaf morphological characteristics of regenerated plants （D=0.785）, especially indicated by diversity indexes of leaf length （D=0.991）, leaf width （D=0.994）, petiole length （D=0.982）, petiole thickness （D=0.995） and leaf thickness （D=0.987）. And all the characteristic values varied broadly with coefficients of variation ranging from 9.84% to 40.09%; 79 accessions were divided into 6 groups by UPGMA method, there were significant differences in leaf morphological traits among the 6 groups; Group I and group VI were quite different from other groups and parent plants （cv. ＂Dawuxing＂）. The leaves of group I were darkgreen, large, hard and thick with long and thick petioles; while those of group VI were yellowgreen, small, thin and soft with slender petioles. These two groups were important excellent germplasm. Based on the abundant genetic diversity in leaf morphological characteristics, the breeding via ＂miniature seeds＂ was considered as an efficient method for broadening the germplasm resources and breeding new varieties of loquat.

Leaf stable carbon isotope composition in Picea schrenkiana var. tianschanica in relation to leaf physiological and morphological characteristics along an altitudinal gradient

To understand the effects of leaf physiological and morphological characteristics on δ13C of alpine trees, we examined leaf δ13C value, LA, SD, LNC, LPC, LKC, Chla+b, LDMC, LMA and Narea in one-year-old needles of Picea schrenkiana var. tianschanica at ten points along an altitudinal gradient from 1420 m to 2300 m a.s.l. on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains in northwest China. Our results indicated that all the leaf traits differed significantly among sampling sites along the altitudinal gradient(P<0.001). LA, SD, LPC, LKC increased linearly with increasing elevation, whereas leaf δ13C, LNC, Chla+b, LDMC, LMA and Narea varied non-linearly with changes in altitude. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that four controlled physiological and morphological characteristics influenced the variation of δ13C. Among these four controlled factors, LKC was the most profound physiological factor that affected δ13C values, LA was the secondary morphological factor, SD was the third morphological factor, LNC was the last physiological factor. This suggested that leaf δ13C was directly controlled by physiological and morphological adjustments with changing environmental conditions due to the elevation.

Effects of Ratio of Row Spacing to Intrarow Spacing on Yield and Top Three Leaves of Super High-yielding Early and Late Rice

Using a split plot design, super high-yielding early rice ＆quot;Zhongjiazao 17＆quot;and ＆quot;Ganxin 203＆quot; and super high-yielding late rice ＆quot;Ganxin 688＆quot; and ＆quot;Wufengy-ouT025＆quot; were taken as materials with planting density the same at 312 000 hil s/hm2, to explore the effects of RS/IS （Ratio of row spacing to intrarow row spacing） on yield, top three leaves morphological features and its relationship of them in 2011 and 2012. The results showed that, whether early or late rice, biomass, accumula-tion and apparent utilizing rate of nitrogen were lower in RS/IS5.0 （40.0 cm ＆#215;8.0 cm） treatment, but yield of rice was higher in RS/IS2.0 （25.0 cm ＆#215;12.8 cm） treatment;grain numbers per spike of rice was more in RS/IS2.8 （30.0 cm＆#215;10.7 cm） treatment, and thousand-grain weight of rice was higher in RS/IS1.3 （20.0 cm＆#215;16.0 cm） treat-ment. For 4 varieties of early or late rice aforementioned, basal angle, opening an-gle and leaf area of 2nd leaf from top were larger in RS/IS5.0 treatment, and basal angle and opening angle were smal er in RS/IS2.0 treatment and leaf area smal er in RS/IS1.3 treatment.

Deciphering the morpho–physiological traits for high yield potential in nitrogen efficient varieties(NEVs):A japonica rice case study

The use of nitrogen(N)-efficient rice(Oryza sativa L.) varieties could reduce excessive N input without sacrificing yields. However, the plant traits associated with N-efficient rice varieties have not been fully defined or comprehensively explored. Here, three japonica N-efficient varieties(NEVs) and three japonica N-inefficient varieties(NIVs) of rice were grown in a paddy field under N omission(0 N, 0 kg N ha^(-1)) and normal N(NN, 180 or 200 kg N ha^(-1)) treatments. Results showed that NEVs exhibited higher grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency(NUE) than NIVs under both treatments, due to improved sink size and filled-grains percentage in the former which had higher root oxidation activity and greater root dry weight, root length and root diameter at panicle initiation(PI), as well as higher spikelet-leaf ratio and more productive tillers during the grain-filling stage. Compared with NIVs, NEVs also exhibited enhanced N translocation and dry matter accumulation after heading and improved flag leaf morpho-physiological traits, including greater leaf thickness and specific leaf weight and higher contents of ribulose^(-1),5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, chlorophyll, nitrogen, and soluble sugars, leading to better photosynthetic performance. Additionally, NEVs had a better canopy structure, as reflected by a higher ratio of the extinction coefficient for effective leaf N to the light extinction coefficient, leading to enhanced canopy photosynthesis and dry matter accumulation. These improved agronomic and physiological traits were positively and significantly correlated with grain yield and internal NUE, which could be used to select and breed N-efficient rice varieties.

Anatomical and morphological characteristics of Populus euphratica in the lower reaches of Tarim River under extreme drought environment

Populus euphratica Oliv.is an old desert tree species that has been naturalized and invades zones along the watercourses in many arid and semiarid regions.The plant species developed some plasticity to adapt to the gradual environmental gradients.The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the changes in leaf morphology of P.euphratica reflect the adaptability of the plant to the unique environment of the lower reaches of Tarim River in China.The foliar architecture,blade epidermal and internal anatomies of P.euphratica were analyzed at different sites along the Tarim River.Compared with the abaxial surface of the leaves,their adaxial surface has more hairs,a greater stomatal density and opening,higher mesophyll proportion,and increased blade thickness,palisade width,and epidermal thickness.The long trichome of the roots found at site 6 in the Yinsu section may be an adapted structure of the plants in arid areas.The mature leaves of P.euphratica have comparatively more epidermis and cuticles,well developed palisades and more chloroplasts at different sites compared to the young leaves.Foliar morphological and anatomical variability in P.euphratica may be considered an adaptive advantage that enables leaves to develop and function in different habitats,marked by strong variations in solar radiation,air temperature,humidity and water table.

Morphological and genetic differentiation in isolated populations of Mexican beech Fagus grandifolia subsp.mexicana

Mexican beech[Fagus grandifolia subsp.mexicana(Martinez)A.E.Murray]is a subspecies endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains and considered endangered due to the low density of its populations and high degree of habitat fragmentation and environmental specificity.Because its morphological and genetic variation is associated with its ability to adapt to changes in environmental conditions,the objective of this study was to determine whether phenotypic and genotypic variation exist,and it relationships with population reduction events.In four beech populations in the states of Hidalgo and Veracruz,we analyzed 11 morphological variables for leaves and 6 micros atellite markers.The morphological variables that to discriminate between populations were related to the size of the leaf,but a robust differentiation pattern was not found,given that independent groups of leaves were identified.The populations located closest to each other,had greater genetic variation and less genetic distance;populations in the extreme north and south had the lowest genetic variation.Genetic differentiation among populations was associated with reduction in population size.In the 3 localities in Hidalgo,recent bottlenecks were identified,and in Veracruz,an old bottleneck was found.Variation in leaf morphology and genetic structure of Mexican beech populations could be the result of a combination of various geographical,climate and ecological factors.

Variation for Resistance to Alternaria tenuissima and Potential Structural Mechanism among Different Cultivars of Chrysanthemum morifolium

Black spot disease,caused by the necrotrophic fungus Alternaria tenuissima(Fr.)Wiltsh(A.tenuissima),is considered a highly destructive disease of Chrysanthemum(Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.).A set of 17 accessions of commercial chrysanthemum cultivars were evaluated for resistance to A.tenuissima by seedling artificial inoculation.It was found that the reaction of the accessions to artificial inoculation ranged from resistant to highly susceptible.Five varieties of chrysanthemum(‘Zhongshan Taogui’,‘Jinba’,‘Zhongshan Jinguan’,‘Jinling Wanhuang’and‘Jinling Yangguang’)were resistant;two varieties of chrysanthemum(‘Zhongshan Xinggui’and‘Zhongshan Jinkui’)were moderately resistant;and others were susceptible to various degrees,four varieties of chrysanthemum(‘Zhongshan Zihe’,‘Zhongshan Jiuhong’,‘Zaoyihong’and‘Jinling Jiaohuang’)were highly susceptible,especially.Some leaf morphological features of two resistant and two highly susceptible cultivars were further researched.Trichome density,length,height,gland size and stomata density were found to be associated with plant passive resistance.Resistant varieties that were identified in present study will be promising germplasm for exploitation of breeding programmes aimed at developing A.tenuissima-resistant cultivars and increasing genetic diversity.

Effects of Nitrogen Addition on Plant Functional Traits in Freshwater Wetland of Sanjiang Plain,Northeast China

To clarify the responses of plant functional traits to nitrogen(N) enrichment, we investigated the whole-plant traits(plant height and aboveground biomass), leaf morphological(specific leaf area(SLA) and leaf dry mass content(LDMC)) and chemical traits(leaf N concentration(LNC) and leaf phosphorus(P) concentration(LPC)) of Deyeuxia angustifolia and Glyceria spiculosa following seven consecutive years of N addition at four rates(0 g N/(m2·yr), 6 g N/(m2·yr), 12 g N/(m2·yr) and 24 g N/(m2·yr)) in a freshwater marsh in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China. The results showed that, for both D. angustifolia and G. spiculosa, N addition generally increased plant height, leaf, stem and total aboveground biomass, but did not cause changes in SLA and LDMC. Moreover, increased N availability caused an increase in LNC, and did not affect LPC. Thus, N addition decreased leaf C∶N ratio, but caused an increase in leaf N∶P ratio, and did not affect leaf C∶P ratio. Our results suggest that, in the mid-term, elevated N loading does not alter leaf morphological traits, but causes substantial changes in whole-plant traits and leaf chemical traits in temperate freshwater wetlands. These may help to better understand the effects of N enrichment on plant functional traits and thus ecosystem structure and functioning in freshwater wetlands.

Dust Retention Ability of Plants as a Factor Improving Environment Air

It is well known that air in industrial cities contains a significant amount of dust particles, smoke, and toxic gases. The increased number of vehicles has a direct impact on air quality resulting in the emission of exhaust gases, and the increase of dust concentration in air. In this article, we are describing the dust retention ability of plants depending on their leaf structure. Plant species were classified into three groups according to their dust-holding capacities. Dust retaining ability of plant species in conditions of high, average and low dust conditions described.

Quantitative Trait Loci Mapping of Leaf Morphological Traits and Chlorophyll Content in Cultivated Tetraploid Cotton

Genetic mapping provides a powerful tool for quantitative trait loci （QTL） analysis at the molecular level. A simple sequence repeat （SSR） genetic map containing 590 markers and a BCI population from two cultivated tetraploid cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） cultivars, namely TM-1 and Hai 7124 （G. barbadense L.）, were used to map and analyze QTL using the composite interval mapping （CIM） method. Thirty one QTLs, 10 for lobe length, 13 for lobe width, six for lobe angle, and two for leaf chlorophyll content, were detected on 15 chromosomes or linkage groups at logarithm of odds （LOD）≥2.0, of which 15 were found for leaf morphology at LOD≥3.0. The genetic effects of the QTL were estimated. These results are fundamental for marker-assisted selection （MAS） of these traits in tetraploid cotton breeding.

Ontogenetic transition in leaf traits: a new cost associated with the increase in leaf longevity

Aims Recent work has identified a worldwide‘economics’spectrum of correlated leaf traits that mainly reflects the compromises between maximizing leaf longevity and short-term productivity.However,during the early stages of tree growth different species tend to exhibit a common strategy,because competition for soil water and nutrients forces the maximization of short-term productivity owing to the need for rapid growth during the most vulnerable part of the tree’s life cycle.Accordingly,our aim here was to compare the variations that occur during ontogeny in the different leaf traits(morphology and leaf chemical composition)of several coexisting Mediterranean woody species differing in their leaf life spans and to test our hypothesis that tree species with a long leaf life span should exhibit larger shifts in leaf characteristics along ontogeny.Methods Six Mediterranean tree species differing in leaf life span,selected from three plots located in central-western Spain,were studied during three growth stages:seedlings,juveniles and mature trees.Leaf life span,leaf morphology(leaf area,dry weight,thickness and mass per unit area)and chemical composition(N and fibre con-centrations)were measured in all six species.The magnitude of the ontogenetic changes in the different traits was estimated and related to the mean leaf longevity of the different species.Important Findings Along ontogeny,strong changes were observed in all variables analysed.The early growth stages showed lower leaf thickness,leaf thickness and mass per unit area and N,cellulose and hemi-cellulose concentrations than mature trees,but a higher lignin content.However,these changes were especially marked in species with a longer leaf life span at maturity.Interspecific dif-ferences in leaf life span,leaf morphology and chemical com-position were stronger at the mature stage than at the seedling stage.We conclude that greater plasticity and more intense strat-egy shifts along ontogeny are necessarily associated with long leaf life span.Our results thus provide a new aspect that should be incorporated into the analysis of the costs and benefits associ-ated with the different strategies related to leaf persistence dis-played by the different species.Accordingly,the intensity of the alterations in leaf traits among different growth stages should be added to the suite of traits that change along the leaf economics spectrum.

Latitudinal variation of leaf morphological traits from species to communities along a forest transect in eastern China

Comprehensive information on geographic patterns of leaf morphological traits in Chinese forests is still scarce.To explore the spatial patterns of leaf traits,we investigated leaf area(LA),leaf thickness(LT),specific leaf area(SLA),and leaf dry matter content(LDMC) across 847 species from nine typical forests along the North-South Transect of Eastern China(NSTEC) between July and August 2013,and also calculated the community weighted means(CWM) of leaf traits by determining the relative dominance of each species.Our results showed that,for all species,the means(± SE) of LA,LT,SLA,and LDMC were 2860.01 ± 135.37 mm2,0.17 ± 0.003 mm,20.15 ± 0.43 m2 kg–1,and 316.73 ± 3.81 mg g–1,respectively.Furthermore,latitudinal variation in leaf traits differed at the species and community levels.Generally,at the species level,SLA increased and LDMC decreased as latitude increased,whereas no clear latitudinal trends among LA or LT were found,which could be the result of shifts in plant functional types.When scaling up to the community level,more significant spatial patterns of leaf traits were observed(R2 = 0.46–0.71),driven by climate and soil N content.These results provided synthetic data compilation and analyses to better parameterize complex ecological models in the future,and emphasized the importance of scaling-up when studying the biogeographic patterns of plant traits.

Crown and leaf traits as predictors of subtropical tree sapling growth rates

Aims Growth rates of plants are driven by factors that influence the amount of resources captured and the efficiency of resource use.In trees,the amount of light captured and the efficiency of light use strongly depends on crown characteristics and leaf traits.Although theory predicts that both crown and leaf traits affect tree growth,few studies have yet to integrate these two types of traits to explain species-specific growth rates.Using 37 broad-leaved tree species of subtropical forests in SE China,we investigated how interspecific differences in wood volume growth rates were affected by crown and leaf traits.We tested the hypotheses that(i)larger crown dimensions promote growth rates,(ii)species-specific growth rates are positively related to leaf stomatal conductance,leaf water potential and leaf chemical components,and negatively related to leaf C/N and leaf toughness and(iii)the two sets of traits better explain growth rates in combination than either alone.Methods Our study was conducted in a large-scale forest Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning experiment in China(BEF-China),located in a mountainous region in Jiangxi Province.We related 17 functional traits(two crown dimension and three crown structure traits;six physiological and six morphological leaf traits)to the mean annual growth rate of wood volume of young trees of the studied species.Interrelationships between crown and leaf traits were analyzed using principal component analysis.Simple linear regression analysis was used to test the effect of each trait separately.We used multiple regression analysis to establish the relationship of growth rate to each set of traits(crown traits,physiological and morphological leaf traits)and to the combination of all types of traits.The coefficients of determination(R^(2)_(adj))of the best multiple regression models were compared to determine the relative explanatory power of crown and leaf traits and a combination of both.Important Findings The species-specific growth rates were not related to any of the single crown traits,but were related positively to leaf stomatal conductance and leaf water potential individually,and negatively to leaf toughness,with approximately 13%variance explained by each of the traits.Combinations of different crown traits did not significantly explain the species-specific growth rates,whereas combinations of either physiological or morphological leaf traits explained 24%and 31%,respectively.A combination of both crown and leaf traits explained 42%of variance in species-specific growth rates.We concluded that sets of traits related to carbon assimilation at the leaf-level and to overall amount of leaves exposed at the crown-level jointly explained species-specific growth rates better than either set of traits alone.