Seasonal variation and ecological importance of tannin and nutrient concentrations in Casuarina equisetifolia branchlets and fine roots

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effects of environmental factors on plant phenolic variability, seasonal dynamics of total phenolic content (TP), extractable condensed tannins (ECT), protein-bound condensed tannins (PBCT), fiber-bound condensed tannins (FBCT), total condensed tannins (TCT), protein precipitation capacity (PPC) and nutrient content in the branchlets and fine roots of Casuarina equisetifolia. TP and TCT concentrations in branchlets were lowest in the spring, then increased in summer and autumn, similar to the seasonal dynamics in air temperature. TP and TCT concentrations in fine roots were highest in summer, coinciding with heavy precipitation. In general, TP and TCT concentrations were higher in branchlets than in fine roots. No significant difference was found in C concentration among various seasons for either branchlets or fine roots. Branchlets had significantly higher N and P concentrations than fine roots in most seasons. The C/N and N/P ratios in branchlets were significantly lower than in fine roots in all seasons, except summer. The relationship between branchlets and fine roots was significant for C, P and FBCT, but no significant relationships were found for N, TP, ECT, PBCT and TCT. Additionally, TP and TCT content were each significantly correlated with PPC in branchlets and in fine roots. Both TP/N and TCT/N ratios were highest in the autumn for the branchlets and in the summer for fine roots. The results indicate that high temperatures lead to increased tannin production in branchlets, but that the tannin content in fine roots is mainly affected by precipitation. Tannin content was greater in branchlets than in fine roots, which may indicate that selective pressure is greater on branchlets than on fine roots.