Photosynthesis, leaf morphology and chemistry of Pinus koraiensis and Quercus mongolica in broadleaved Korean pine mixed forest

Leaf traits and physiology are species-specific and various with canopy position and leaf age. Leaf photosynthesis, morphology and chemistry in the upper and lower canopy positions of Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc and Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Turoz in broadleaved Korean pine forest were determined in September 2009. Canopy position did not significantly affect light-saturated photosynthetic rate based on unit area (P area) and unit dry mass (P mass), apparent quantum yield (α), light compensation point (LCP), light saturation point (LSP); total nitrogen (Nm), phosphorus (Pm), carbon (Cm), and chlorophyll content (Chlm) per unit dry mass; leaf dry mass per unit area (LMA) and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE) for P. koraiensis current-year needles and Q. mongolica leaves. While in P. koraiensis one-year-old needles, P area, P mass, α and LCP in the upper canopy were lower than those in the lower canopy. The needles of P. koraiensis had higher Cm and LMA than leaves of Q. mongolica, but P mass, Chlm and PNUE showed opposite trend. There were no differences in P area, LSP, Nm, and Pm between the two species. Needle age significantly influenced photosynthetic parameters, chemistry and LMA of P. koraiensis needles except LCP, LSP and Cm. In contrast to LMA, P area, P mass, Nm, Pm, Chlm, and PNUE of one-year-old needles were significantly lower than those of current-year needles for P. koraiensis. The negative correlations between LMA and P mass, Nm, Pm, Chlm, and positive correlations between P mass and Nm, Pm, Chlm were found for P. koraiensis current-year needles and Q. mongolica leaves. Our results indicate that leaf nitrogen and phosphorus contents and nutrient absorption from soil are similar for mature P. koraiensis and Q. mongolica growing in the same environment, while difference in carbon content between P. koraiensis and Q. mongolica may be attributed to inherent growth characteristics.