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Silicious trichomes as a trait that may slow down leaf decomposition by soil meso- and macrofauna

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Abstract

Aims

This study explored a possibility that leaf silicious trichomes slow down leaf mass loss by soil meso- and macrofauna.

Methods

We focused on closely related Moraceae tree species (Broussonetia papyrifera and Morus australis) with different leaf trichome densities. First, we conducted microscopic analyses of leaf trichomes and investigated nine other leaf traits. We then performed a 25-day decomposition experiment with bags of different mesh sizes that excluded and included meso- and macrofauna. A cafeteria experiment was also implemented to examine palatability of leaf powder (i.e. trichome effects removed) to the most abundant macrofauna (Armadillidium vulgare) in our decomposition site.

Results

Broussonetia papyrifera exhibited a 150-fold higher silicious trichome density on the lower leaf surface than M. australis. The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio was significantly lower in B. papyrifera than M. australis. In decomposition, the ash-free mass loss of B. papyrifera was significantly higher than that of M. australis in the <0.2-mm mesh bag. Similarly, in the cafeteria experiment with A. vulgare, mass loss of B. papyrifera leaf powder was significantly higher than that of M. australis. In the 5-mm mesh bag, however, the ash-free mass loss of B. papyrifera was significantly lower than that of M. australis.

Conclusions

Despite rich nutrient quality of B. papyrifera leaves, leaf decomposition of B. papyrifera with greater trichome densities was slower than that of M. australis only in the 5-mm mesh bag that permitted the entry of meso- and macrofauna. This suggests a suppressive effect of leaf silicious trichomes on decomposition by the large decomposers.

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Data availability

Data available on request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Saori Fujii, Michimasa Yamasaki and members of the Kitajima laboratory for their constructive comments on this research. We appreciate Yusuke Onoda and the staff at the Kitashirakawa Experimental Station for their experimental support. We thank Naoto Nakamura for pre-submission review. This research was financially supported by the Research Institute of Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University.

Funding

Research Institute of Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University.

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Author notes

  1. Ryosuke Nakamura

    Present address: Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

  2. Gaku Amada

    Present address: Institute of Arctic Climate and Environment Research, Research Institute for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Yokohama, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Uji, Japan

    Ryosuke Nakamura

  2. Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

    Gaku Amada & Hirofumi Kajino

  3. Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

    Kei Morisato & Kazuyoshi Kanamori

  4. Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan

    Motohiro Hasegawa

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  1. Ryosuke Nakamura
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Contributions

RN, GA and HK conceived the ideas and designed methodology; RN, GA, HK, KM, MH collected the data; RN, GA and HK analyzed the data; RN led the writing of the manuscript; HK, GA, KK and HK revised it critically for important intellectual content. All authors contributed critically to the drafts and gave final approval for publication.

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Correspondence to Ryosuke Nakamura.

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Nakamura, R., Amada, G., Kajino, H. et al. Silicious trichomes as a trait that may slow down leaf decomposition by soil meso- and macrofauna. Plant Soil 471, 289–299 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05223-1

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