Experimental precipitation manipulation impacts leaf economic trait relationships in a C4 perennial grass

The data in this publication were used to examine the impacts of experimental precipitation manipulation (extremely dry, average, extremely wet) on the relationship between gene expression, biomass production, and the expression of three phenotypes that describe leaf economics strategies (leaf nitrogen concentration, leaf mass per area, photosynthetic rate on a leaf mass basis). Six tetraploid (4x) genotypes of the candidate bioenergy grass, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), were used in a rainout shelter facility at the USDA-ARS Grassland Soil and Water Research Lab in Temple, Texas, USA. The study began in 2011; leaf economics trait data were collected in June 2012 and biomass production was measured at the end of the growing season in November 2012.The genetic contribution to intraspecific (co)variation in leaf economics traits is rarely studied, perhaps because it is difficult to isolate genetic from environmental effects in the natural field environments. To better understand intraspecific trait variation, six diverse genotypes of the grass Panicum virgatum (switchgrass) were grown across an experimental precipitation.For more information about this study and these data, see Heckman et al. (accepted).