Soil compaction drives an intra-genotype Leaf Economics Spectrum in wine grapes

Abstract Purpose Intraspecific trait variation is a critical determinant of ecosystem processes, especially in agroecosystems where single species or genotypes exist in very high abundances. Yet to date only a small number of studies have evaluated if, how, or why traits forming the Leaf Economics Spectrum (LES) vary within crops, despite such studies informing our understanding of: 1) the environmental factors that drive crop LES trait variation; and 2) how domestication has altered LES traits in crops vs. wild plants.Methods We assess intragenotype variation in LES traits in ‘Chardonnay’ (Vitis vinifera)—among the world’s most commercially important crops, across a soil compaction gradient: one of the most prominent characteristics of agricultural soils that may drive crop trait variation.Results ‘Chardonnay’ traits covary along an intragenotype LES in patterns that were qualitatively similar to those observed among wild plants: resource acquiring vines expressed a combination of high mass-based photosynthesis (Amass), mass-based dark respiration (Rmass), leaf nitrogen concentrations (N), coupled with low leaf mass per area (LMA); the opposite set of trait values defined the resource conserving end of the ‘Chardonnay’ LES. Traits related to resource acquisition (Amass, Rmass, and leaf N) declined with greater bulk density, while traits related to investment in leaf construction costs (LMA) increased with greater bulk density.Conclusion Our findings uncover a deeper understanding of both the domestication syndromes in grapevines, and expand our understanding of trait-based crop responses to environmental change and gradients.