Multivariate trait syndromes in ‘Chardonnay’ in relation to soil
bulk density
The seven traits incorporated into our multivariate analysis covaried
along two primary PCA axes, which accounted for 46.4% and 21.5% of
variation in ‘Chardonnay’ physiological (A mass,R mass, Φ , LLCP), morphological (leaf area,
LMA), and chemical (leaf N) traits (Figure 2). The first PCA axis
represented ‘Chardonnay’ leaf trait covariation and trade-offs
consistent with an intragenotype LES. Specifically, PCA axis 1 was most
strongly and positively related to A mass, leaf N,
leaf Φ , and R mass (r =0.644-0.888
and p <0.001 in all cases), all of which traded-off with
LMA (r =-0.615, p <0.001; Figure 2, Table S3).
Therefore, ‘Chardonnay’ leaves expressing a higher PCA axis 1 score were
associated with “resource acquiring” LES trait syndromes, while
“resource conserving” LES trait syndromes characterized ‘Chardonnay’
leaves with lower PCA axis 1 scores (Figure 2). The second PCA axis
reflected the covariation of traits associated with resource investment
in light interception, including leaf area (r =0.431,p <0.001) and LMA (r =0.69,p <0.001), and leaf-level light requirements (LLCP,r =0.767, p <0.001; Figure 2, Table S3).
Planting row identity explained 39.6% of the variation in multivariate
leaf trait syndromes in ‘Chardonnay’ (PerMANOVAp <0.001, Table S4), with the rows of lowest bulk
density being concentrated and differentiated (in terms of their 95%
confidence ellipses) at the resource-acquiring end of PCA 1 axis (Figure
2). Planting rows with the highest mean bulk density (i.e., Row 5) did
tend to be concentrated at the resource-conserving end PCA axis 1
(Figure 2). However, differentiation of leaves sampled in planting rows
2-5, where bulk density did increase albeit not significantly, was
weaker along PCA axis 1. Soil bulk density, as represented categorically
by planting row identity, did not influence ‘Chardonnay’ leaf position
along PCA axis 2 with rows showing overlapping 95% confidence ellipses
along this axis (Figure 2). Neither individual plant identity, nor its
interaction with planting row, influenced the position of ‘Chardonnay’
leaves in multivariate trait space (PerMANOVA p =0.788 and 0.301,
respectively, Table S4).