Nitrogen resorption and photosynthetic activity over leaf life span in an evergreen shrub, Rhododendron ferrugineum, in a subalpine environment

Abstract

• Here, the advantages for a shrub of having long vs short-lived leaves was investigated in Rhododendron ferrugineum by following nitrogen( 15N) and carbon(14C) resorption and translocation, and photosynthetic capacity over the life span. • Mean leaf life span was 19 months. Nitrogen (N) resorption in attached leaves occurred mainly in the first year (23%) and reached a maximum of 31% in the second. Although, resorption was similar in attached and fallen 1-yr-old leaves, it was on average one-third higher in fallen than in attached older leaves. Final N resorption of a leaf compartment reached 41%, half occurring from healthy leaves during the first year. • Photosynthetic capacity decreased slightly during the life span. Before shoot growth, plant photosynthesis was mainly supported by 1-yr-old leaves, although the contribution of the 2-yr-old leaves was nonnegligible (15% of the capacity and higher carbon transfer toward the roots). After shoot growth, the current-year leaves made the greatest contribution. • Our results suggest that short-lived leaves (half of the cohort) are mainly involved in a photosynthetic function, having a high photosynthetic capacity and drawing most of their resorbed N towards current-year leaves; and long-lived leaves are also involved in a conservative function, increasing N resorption and mean residence time (MRT).