Controls for phytolith accumulation in Moso bamboo leaves across China

Phytoliths are amorphous silica formed gradually in plant tissue, which have great potential to mitigate climate change due to their resistance to decomposition and their ability to occlude organic carbon. The accumulation of phytoliths is regulated by multiple factors. However, the factors controlling its accumulation remain unclear. Here, we investigated phytolith content in Moso bamboo leaves of different ages collected from 110 sampling sites of their main distribution regions across China. The controls for phytolith accumulation were studied by correlation and random forest analyses. Our results showed that phytolith content is leaf age-dependent (16-month-old leaf >4-month-old leaf >3-month-old leaf). Phytolith accumulation rate in Moso bamboo leaves is significantly correlated with mean monthly temperature (MMT) and mean monthly precipitation (MMP). About 67.1 % of the variance of the phytolith accumulation rate could be explained by multiple environmental factors, mainly MMT and MMP. Therefore, we conclude that the weather is the major driver that regulates the phytolith accumulation rate. Our study provides a unique dataset for estimating phytolith production rate and the potential carbon sequestration of phytolith through climatic factors.