Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40152148›Full record

ArticleThe New phytologist2025

Changes in leaf economic trait relationships across a precipitation gradient are related to differential gene expression in a C

Robert W Heckman, Michael J Aspinwall, Samuel H Taylor, David B Lowry, Albina Khasanova, Jason E Bonnette, Samsad Razzaque, Philip A Fay, Thomas E Juenger

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The New phytologist, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Correlational selection and genetic architecture shape the evolution of the leaf economics spectrum in a perennial grass.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Robert W HeckmanDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2281-3091
Michael J AspinwallDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0199-2972
Samuel H TaylorDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9714-0656
David B LowryDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8182-1059
Albina KhasanovaDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6652-012X
Jason E BonnetteDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1835-8409
Samsad RazzaqueDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0836-2076
Philip A FayU.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Grassland Soil and Water Research Lab, Temple, TX, 76502, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8291-6316
Thomas E JuengerDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9550-9288

Funding

Biological and Environmental Research DE-SC0014156Division of Integrative Organismal Systems IOS-0922457Division of Integrative Organismal Systems IOS-1444533National Institute of Food and Agriculture 2019-67013-29161US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The leaf economics spectrum (LES) describes a suite of functional traits that consistently covary at large spatial and taxonomic scales. Despite its importance at these larger scales, few studies have examined the major drivers of intraspecific variation in the LES - phenotypic plasticity and standing genetic variation. Using experimental precipitation manipulations, we examined whether covariation among leaf economics traits and selection on leaf economics traits and trait combinations change as diverse genotypes of the widespread perennial grass Panicum virgatum are exposed to differences in precipitation. We also used RNA-Seq to examine whether groups of co-expressed genes that align with leaf economics traits function in processes hypothesized to underlie the LES. Water availability impacted leaf economics trait covariation in important ways - covariation between leaf economics traits and selection on covariation between traits (i.e. correlational selection) tended to be strongest when water availability was high. Additionally, many genes associated with leaf economics traits functioned in processes that may explain how the LES originates, such as chloroplasts, cell walls, and nitrogen metabolism. Water availability is likely an important modulator of selection and evolution of the LES in P. virgatum that can be better understood by examining gene expression.

Indexed as

Gene Expression Regulation, PlantPanicumPlant LeavesPoaceaeQuantitative Trait, HeritableRainGenes, PlantPhenotypeWaterWaterextreme precipitationfunctional ecologygene expressionleaf economics strategyleaf mass per arealocal adaptationswitchgrasstranscriptomics

Identifiers

PMID40152148
PMCPMC12018783

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.