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Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Relating Stomatal Conductance to Leaf Functional Traits
Published on: October 12, 2015
Leaf functional traits and their effects on photosynthetic carbon fixation of eight deciduous shrubs in urban parks
Han Li1,2,3, Sidong Shen4, Jing Qian5
1College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
Introduction:
Urban vegetation plays a crucial role in enhancing carbon sinks. However, how leaf functional traits affect photosynthetic carbon fixation in landscape deciduous shrubs remains unclear. Identifying key leaf functional traits indicative of high carbon fixation is essential for selecting and breeding landscape shrubs with high carbon fixation capacity.
Methods:
This study investigated the leaf structural, chemical, and physiological traits, leaf lifespan, and photosynthetic carbon fixation of eight common deciduous shrubs in urban parks, including Hibiscus syriacus, Rosa hybrida, Sorbaria sorbifolia, Deutzia parviflora, Cornus alba, Viburnum opulus subsp. calvescens, Lonicera maackii, and Weigela florida. Pearson correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and partial least squares (PLS) regression were used to explore leaf functional traits and their effects on photosynthetic carbon fixation.
Results:
The results showed that H. syriacus, R. hybrida, C. alba, and W. florida exhibited higher specific leaf area, relative chlorophyll content, and stomatal conductance, demonstrating stronger carbon fixation capacity. In contrast, S. sorbifolia, D. parviflora, V. opulus, and L. maackii showed higher leaf mass per area and leaf dry matter content, as well as longer leaf lifespan, exhibiting weaker carbon fixation. High carbon fixation capacity of plants is an integrated outcome of covarying traits, including high values of specific leaf area, leaf nitrogen and phosphorus content per unit area, relative chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency. This trait combination trades off with higher leaf mass per area, higher leaf dry matter content, and longer leaf lifespan. Specific leaf area, relative chlorophyll content, and leaf lifespan were identified as the key leaf functional traits affecting photosynthetic carbon fixation in plants.
Discussion:
Our findings revealed that leaf functional traits collectively regulated photosynthetic efficiency and annual carbon assimilation through synergies and trade-offs, thereby influencing photosynthetic carbon fixation. This study provide a bioecological basis for selecting and breeding landscape shrubs with high carbon fixation.
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