Developmental stage modulates twig trait variation across local alpine sites in Rhododendron nivale on the southeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau
Abstract
Background and aimsAlpine shrubs coordinate leaf display, stem support, and reproduction within short growing seasons, but the role of developmental stage in trait variation among sites and plant–soil associations remains poorly resolved. We examined this question in Rhododendron nivale on the southeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.MethodsWe sampled 87–93 current-year twigs for each site and developmental stage (540 twigs in total) at three sites located at 4300, 4358, and 4414 m a.s.l. Sampling was conducted during the flowering stage in June 2024 (FG) and the late-growth stage in September 2024 (LG). We measured leaf, stem, and flower traits and seven soil properties. Site × Stage effects were tested with plant-random-intercept mixed-effects models. We also conducted an 18-trait PCA with supplementary soil projections, RDA, and stage-specific path models.ResultsSignificant Site × Stage interactions occurred for NL, ILB, SLA, TD, TB, LI, and SLR. During FG, NF and FB were lower at the 4300-m site than at the 4358- and 4414-m sites. The first two PCA axes explained 48.9% of total trait variation. Soil temperature covaried negatively with Site at both stages (standardized β = −0.866 and −0.902), whereas the Site–SOC association was positive during FG (β = 0.235) and negative during LG (β = −0.351).ConclusionSite-associated differences did not form a single twig trait syndrome. Instead, the covariation of leaf, stem, and flower traits with the local soil environment differed between developmental stages. Developmental stage should therefore be considered when interpreting trait–soil associations in alpine shrubs.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026developmental,
title = {{Developmental stage modulates twig trait variation across local alpine sites in Rhododendron nivale on the southeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau}},
author = {Ning Zhang and Jinniu Wang and Lin Zhang and Xin Liu and Narayan Prasad Gaire and Hao Wang},
journal = {Frontiers in Plant Science},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2026.1991380},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1991380},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Developmental stage modulates twig trait variation across local alpine sites in Rhododendron nivale on the southeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau
AU - Ning Zhang
AU - Jinniu Wang
AU - Lin Zhang
AU - Xin Liu
AU - Narayan Prasad Gaire
AU - Hao Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Frontiers in Plant Science
DO - 10.3389/fpls.2026.1991380
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1991380
AB - Background and aimsAlpine shrubs coordinate leaf display, stem support, and reproduction within short growing seasons, but the role of developmental stage in trait variation among sites and plant–soil associations remains poorly resolved. We examined this question in Rhododendron nivale on the southeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.MethodsWe sampled 87–93 current-year twigs for each site and developmental stage (540 twigs in total) at three sites located at 4300, 4358, and 4414 m a.s.l. Sampling was conducted during the flowering stage in June 2024 (FG) and the late-growth stage in September 2024 (LG). We measured leaf, stem, and flower traits and seven soil properties. Site × Stage effects were tested with plant-random-intercept mixed-effects models. We also conducted an 18-trait PCA with supplementary soil projections, RDA, and stage-specific path models.ResultsSignificant Site × Stage interactions occurred for NL, ILB, SLA, TD, TB, LI, and SLR. During FG, NF and FB were lower at the 4300-m site than at the 4358- and 4414-m sites. The first two PCA axes explained 48.9% of total trait variation. Soil temperature covaried negatively with Site at both stages (standardized β = −0.866 and −0.902), whereas the Site–SOC association was positive during FG (β = 0.235) and negative during LG (β = −0.351).ConclusionSite-associated differences did not form a single twig trait syndrome. Instead, the covariation of leaf, stem, and flower traits with the local soil environment differed between developmental stages. Developmental stage should therefore be considered when interpreting trait–soil associations in alpine shrubs.
SN - 1664-462X
ER -