Seedling traits from root to shoot exhibit genetic diversity and distinct responses to environmental heterogeneity within a tree population

Phenotypic diversity within plant species is crucial to shaping evolutionary responses of populations and interactions among species, yet intraspecific genetic variability notably in roots has attracted little attention. Further, evidence for the root−shoot trait synchronisation remains inconclusive, narrowing our understanding of the role that belowground traits play in local adaptation. We applied broad 'top-to-toe' phenotyping to a model system whose native environmental conditions were simulated in experimental settings. Fifteen maternal families of Norway spruce Picea abies from southern Finland grew in six combinations of two simulated growing seasons and three soil treatments. We scored variation in 25 functional traits, including size, architecture and morphology of intact root systems, and shoot growth and phenology. Careful phenotyping of roots uncovered five trait dimensions, with root size, architecture and morphology forming the three largest axes of variation. Dimensions v...植物种内的表型多样性（phenotypic diversity）对于塑造种群的进化响应以及物种间的相互作用至关重要，但种内遗传变异——尤其是根系相关的遗传变异——却鲜有研究关注。此外，关于根-冠性状同步性（root-shoot trait synchronisation）的相关证据仍不明确，这限制了我们对地下性状（belowground traits）在局部适应（local adaptation）中所发挥作用的认知。我们针对一个模式系统开展了全覆盖的"从头到脚"表型分析（phenotyping），该系统的原生环境条件已在实验环境中得到模拟。我们将来自芬兰南部的15个挪威云杉（*Picea abies*）母本家系（maternal families）种植于6种实验组合条件中，涵盖2种模拟生长季与3种土壤处理方式。我们对25项功能性状（functional traits）的变异进行了量化评分，其中包括完整根系的大小、结构与形态，以及地上部分的生长和物候特征。通过对根系开展精细化表型分析，我们共发掘出5个性状维度，其中根系大小、结构与形态构成了变异的三大主导轴。Dimensions v...