Changes in leaf characteristics as indicator of the alteration of functional types of steppe plants along the aridity gradient

Changes in some leaf characteristics: leaf mass area (LMA), content of photosynthetic pigments and nitrogen in the leaves, leaf mass ratio (LMR) and leaf area ratio (LAR) were investigated in steppe plants of the Volga land along the gradient of aridity. When drought stress became stronger, the content of chlorophylls in the leaves, LMR and LAR decreased, whereas LMA and the proportion of carotenoids in the leaves rose. In the North to South direction, the content of pigments and nitrogen per unit whole plant weight considerably decreased (4 and 2 times, respectively). The relationship between leaf indices (chlorophyll and nitrogen contents and LMA) differed along this gradient. It was concluded that adaptation of steppe plants to drought stress generally depended on predominant development of heterotrophic tissues in the leaf and the whole plant. During aridization, the stress-tolerant species became more numerous.     

Determination of mesophyll diffusion resistance in Chamaerion angustifolium by the method of three-dimensional reconstruction of the leaf cell packing

A detailed quantitative analysis of the three-dimensional organization of the mesophyll was performed, and mesophyll diffusion resistance to CO₂ in the leaves of Chamaerion angustifolium formed under different irradiance was calculated using an original method of stereometric cellular packing. For each type of leaves (sun and shade), we determined structural components of gas exchange: the volume of mesophyll per unit leaf area (V _mes), the volume of the intercellular space in the mesophyll (V _is), the area of the total mesophyll surface (S), the area of the free mesophyll surface facing the intercellular spaces (S _mes), and the ratios of the total and the free mesophyll surfaces to its volume (S/V and S _mes/V). As compared with sun leaves, in the shade leaves of Ch. angustifolium, S and V _mes decreased twofold, tissue density was reduced twofold, and the share of the intercellular space in the mesophyll rose from 49 to 72%. In shade, the diffusion resistance of the mesophyll increased by 1.8 times because of changes in the leaf structure. At the same time, the ratio S _mes/V was found to increase by 1.4 times, which facilitated the diffusion of CO₂. In the shade leaves of Ch. angustifolium, the diffusion resistance of the intercellular air spaces was reduced twofold as a result of an increase in their share in the leaf mesophyll and simplification of their geometry. Thus, the method of three-dimensional reconstruction of sun and shade leaves of Ch. angustifolium showed a comprehensive rearrangement of the mesophyll spatial organization in shade and revealed the structural mechanisms of changes in the resistance to CO₂ diffusion within the leaf.     

CO2 uptake and transport in leaf mesophyll cells

Abstract The acquisition of inorganic carbon for photosynthetic assimilation by leaf mesophyll cells and chloroplasts is discussed with particular reference to membrane permeation of CO₂ and HCO^?₃. Experimental evidence indicates that at the apoplast pH normally experienced by leaf mesophyll cells (pH 6–7) CO₂ is the principal species of inorganic carbon taken up. Uptake of HCO^?₃ may also occur under certain circumstances (i.e. pH 8.5), but its contribution to the net flux of inorganic carbon is small and HCO^?₃ uptake does not function as a CO₂-concentrating mechanism. Similarly, CO₂ rather than HCO^?₃ appears to be the species of inorganic carbon which permeates the chloroplast envelope. In contrast to many C₃ aquatic plants and C₄ plants, C₃ terrestrial plants lack specialized mechanisms for the acquisition and transport of inorganic carbon from the intercellular environment to the site of photosynthetic carboxylation, but rely upon the diffusive uptake of CO₂.     

神木天坑不同小生境木本植物叶功能性状的差异与关联

为进一步探讨天坑生境下木本植物的生存策略，该研究以神木天坑不同小生境(底部、坑腰和边缘)的木本植物为对象，选取叶厚度、叶组织密度、叶面积等10个叶功能性状指标，运用单因素方差分析和相关性分析等方法，分析了天坑木本植物叶功能性状的变异特征以及小生境对木本植物叶功能性状的影响。结果表明：(1)在神木天坑木本植物10个叶功能性状中，叶面积变异系数最大(113.9%),叶碳含量变异系数最小(10.5%)。(2)天坑边缘、坑腰的乔木叶组织密度显著高于底部(P<0.05),天坑底部乔木、灌木的叶钾含量显著高于边缘(P<0.05),3种小生境中木质藤本未出现显著差异(P>0.05)。(3)不同小生境叶功能性状相关性存在一定差异，从天坑底部到边缘小生境，叶厚度与叶面积逐渐呈极显著正相关；主成分分析结果显示叶组织密度(-0.833)、叶钾含量(0.782)、叶干物质含量(-0.647)贡献较大，是神木天坑不同小生境木本植物叶功能性状的主要指标。综上认为，叶功能性状之间普遍关联，天坑木本植物通过对叶功能性状的权衡来适应不同小生境。该研究结果为了解植物对特殊生境的适应机制以及天坑植被的保护...     

Tropospheric ozone-induced structural changes in leaf mesophyll cell walls in grapevine plants

The structural changes in leaves of grapevine plants (Vitis vinifera L.) exposed to different ozone concentrations were investigated. Ozone fumigations were performed in open-top chambers at four different ozone levels (charcoal-filtered air (F), ambient air (N), ambient air + 25 mm³m⁻³ ozone (O-25) and ambient air + 50 mm³m⁻³ ozone (O-50)). The leaves of plants from chambers with increased ozone concentrations (O-25 and O-50) were significantly thicker than the controls (F), owing to increased thickness of the mesophyll layer. Observing O-50 leaves, it was found that the mesophyll cell wall displayed structural changes. In some places cell wall thickness increased up to 1 μm. We found callose deposits on the inner side of the cell walls of mesophyll cells. These data are in accord with the concept that the mesophyll cell wall acts as a barrier against the penetration of tropospheric ozone into the cells.     

延河流域森林草原区不同植物功能型适应策略及功能型物种数量随退耕年限的变化

不同退耕年限退耕地的环境差异以及不同生物间的相互作用导致各阶段植物功能型物种数量不同。研究退耕地植被自然恢复过程中不同植物功能型适应策略及功能型物种数量随退耕年限的变化,对于理解植物对环境的响应机制及植物的适应策略具有重要意义。采用空间序列代替时间序列的方法,以延河流域森林草原区不同退耕年限、自然恢复的植物群落为研究对象,调查了不同退耕年限的植物群落33个,共44种植物,涉及16个科35个属,分别测定了每个物种的叶厚度、比叶面积、叶组织密度、叶片氮含量、比根长、根组织密度、细根氮含量等7项能够反映植物生存对策且易于测量的功能性状。依据这7项植物功能性状,采用数量分类方法将全部物种划分为3个功能型。结果表明:(1)根据C-S-R理论,功能型Ⅰ植物用于防御的投资较多,生长速率处于中间水平,偏向于"胁迫-干扰型",功能型Ⅱ植物能够通过维持体内的养分平衡的方式对抗资源贫瘠或干旱的环境,偏向于"胁迫-竞争型"对策,而功能型Ⅲ植物吸收大量的营养和资源用于生长,偏向于"竞争型";(2)功能型Ⅰ在整个植被恢复时间序列中占据优势地位(61%—80%),并呈增加趋势,功能型Ⅱ则由恢复初期的25%降低为恢复后期的15%,功能型Ⅲ从恢复初期的14%降低到恢复后期的5%。同时,在功能型Ⅰ内部,优势物种也发生着相应的相互替代。虽然土壤养分含量整体上随着植被自然恢复时间的延长而呈上升趋势,但是植物的生存环境并未改善到不存在干扰与胁迫的程度。因此,在植被恢复初期的四、五十年内,"胁迫-干扰型"策略的植物占据着绝对优势。随着植被恢复时间的延长,能够高效利用资源且抗胁迫能力强的物种代替了以快速生长和传播为适应策略的物种。     

水分胁迫对春小麦苗期叶肉细胞和气孔数的影响

利用显微摄像系统与离析法对甘肃陇中６个品种春小麦不同水分状况下苗期的叶肉细胞和叶片气孔数目进行观测,发现不同环数叶肉细胞占总人细胞的百分比在不同水分胁迫下和不同品种间均未表现出显著差异。随胁迫强度的增大,各品种不同叶肉细胞的宽试和高度都由分散分布向某一值集中,且在同一水分状况下,不同环数叶肉细胞随品种的变化趋势几乎一致。叶片上、下表皮（即为近、远轴叶表皮,下同）气孔数在不同水分胁迫下的变化不同,但     

Estimating mixtures of leaf functional types using continental-scale satellite and climatic data

Aim Recent research has shown that much of the variability in leaf gas exchange and leaf longevity can be related to variations in the surface : volume ratio of leaves. The aim of this paper was to develop a theoretical framework and a practical method to extend that result to the vegetation at the continental scale. Location The study was conducted in Australia. Methods We propose that vegetation is composed of a mixture of three basic leaf types, ‘turgor’ (T), ‘mesic’ (M) and ‘sclerophyll’ (S) leaves. Changes in the relative proportions of T, M and S leaves within a vegetation type are visualized using a ternary diagram and differences in vegetation structure are shown to be easily mapped onto the ternary diagram. We estimate the proportions of T, M and S leaves using readily available data. The total amount of PAR absorbed by the vegetation (fPAR) is estimated using continental‐scale satellite observations. The total fPAR is then decomposed into that absorbed by T, M and S leaves. The relative absorption of PAR by T leaves is estimated from the temporal dynamics in the satellite signal, while the relative proportions of M and S leaves are estimated using climatic (solar radiation, rainfall) data. Results When the availability of light, nutrients and water were near‐optimal, the vegetation was composed of predominantly M leaves. In low nutrient environments S leaves predominated. T leaves were dominant in disturbed environments. Conclusions The theoretical framework is used to predict that elevated atmospheric CO₂ would tend to increase the proportion of M and S leaves in an ecosystem and the resulting change means that the proportion of T leaves would decrease. In terms of the TMS scheme, this implies that elevated CO₂ has the same net effect on the vegetation as a decrease in disturbance.     

Response of photosynthesis of different plant functional types to environmental changes along Northeast China Transect

Net photosynthesis (P_n), transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (g_s), internal CO₂ concentration (C_i), and water use efficiency (WUE) were examined on 215 species from eight plant functional types (PFTs) along a precipitation gradient in northeast China (the Northeast China Transect, or NECT). Among the eight PFTs, meadow steppe grasses had the highest rates of net photosynthesis and forest grasses the lowest and the following order of P_n was noted: meadow steppe grasses >typical steppe grasses >steppe shrubs >desert grasses >forest trees >forest shrubs >desert shrubs >forest grasses (P<0.05). Transpiration tended to be the highest in the steppe grasses and lowest in forest shrubs. Transpiration also decreased rapidly with the appearance of C₃ desert species at the desert end. The forest tree PFT had lower P_n, E, g_s than the steppe PFTs, whereas WUE values were somewhat greater in the forest tree PFT than the desert shrubs and grasses. Low C_i values along the steppe section (from 400 to 1100 km, east to west) indicated the presence of C₄ species. Of all the PFTs, only shrubs and herbs were noted at all points along the transect. No clear relationship between P_n, E, g_s, WUE of herb and shrub PFTs and annual precipitation was noted – low values were found at both the high and low precipitation ends of the transect. Highest values were noted when precipitation was intermediate. Received: 28 October 1998 / Accepted: 10 May 1999     

植物功能性状与外来植物入侵

揭示影响外来植物入侵性的功能性状及其生态机制是入侵植物生态学的核心任务之一。本文综述了植物功能性状与外来植物入侵性的研究进展, 通过分析植物功能性状对外来植物入侵的贡献以及外来植物的不同入侵阶段对其功能性状的需求, 探讨植物功能性状与外来植物入侵的相关性及其入侵机理。迄今研究较多的影响外来植物入侵性的功能性状主要包括形态性状、生长性状、生理性状、繁殖性状、种子性状、克隆性状、表型可塑性和遗传变异等。这些功能性状对外来植物入侵的贡献随着入侵阶段的不同而变化。在传播到达阶段, 种子性状对入侵具有重要影响; 在定居建群阶段, 与植物抗逆性和适应性相关的生理性状和繁殖性状发挥主要作用; 在扩散入侵阶段, 克隆性状和影响植物竞争能力的生理性状对植物成功入侵具有重要贡献。由于植物入侵性是其功能性状和环境因素互作的结果, 且功能性状的作用随环境因素和入侵阶段不同而异, 因此, 结合外来植物入侵阶段, 并考虑功能性状与环境因子的互作, 是入侵生物学中植物功能性状研究的发展趋势。     

Development of leaf photosynthetic parameters in Betula pendula Roth leaves: correlations with photosystem I density

The global modelling of photosynthesis is based on exact knowledge of the leaf photosynthetic machinery. The capacities of partial reactions of leaf photosynthesis develop at different rates, but it is not clear how the development of photoreactions and the Calvin cycle are co-ordinated. We investigated the development of foliar photosynthesis in the temperate deciduous tree Betula pendula Roth. using a unique integrated optical/gas exchange methodology that allows simultaneous estimation of photosystem I and II (PS I and PS II) densities per leaf area, interphotosystem electron transport activities, and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) kinetic properties. We combined these measurements with in vitro determinations of Rubisco, soluble protein and chlorophyll contents. We observed a strong increase in leaf photosynthetic capacity in developing leaves per leaf area, as well as per dry mass, that was paralleled by accumulation of leaf Rubisco. Enhanced mesophyll conductance was the outcome of increased carboxylation capacity and increased CO(2) diffusion conductance. However, Rubisco was only partly activated in the leaves, according to in vivo measurements of Rubisco kinetics. The amount of active Rubisco increased in proportion with development of PS I, probably through a direct link between Rubisco activase and PS I electron transport. Since the kinetics for post-illumination P700 re-reduction did not change, the synthesis of cytochrome b(6)f complex was also proportional to PS I. The synthesis of PS II began later and continued for several days after reaching the full PS I activity, but leaf chlorophyll was shared equally between the photosystems. Due to this, the antenna of PS II was very large and not optimally organized, leading to greater losses of excitation and lower quantum yields in young leaves. We conclude that co-ordinated development of leaf photosynthesis is regulated at the level of PS I with subordinated changes in PS II content and Rubisco activation.     

北方地区藤本类忍冬叶表皮结构及其生态适应性比较研究

利用光镜和扫描电镜观察了8种在北京地区引种栽培成功的藤本类忍冬的叶表皮形态,观察指标包括气孔器、表皮毛、表皮细胞特征等.结合其在北京的栽培状况,发现叶片表皮形态和解剖结构与生态适应性之间有很强的相关性.自然分布广、适应性强的种在叶表皮形态上表现出气孔密度大、表皮细胞小、被毛或叶革质等特征.金银花、红白忍冬、淡红忍冬是8种忍冬中适应性最强的,具有推广应用价值.本研究为藤本类忍冬在北方地区推广应用提供了理论基础.     

The control of chloroplast number in wheat mesophyll cells

Chloroplast number per cell and mesophyll cell plan area were determined in populations of separated cells from the primary leaves of different wheat species representing three levels of ploidy. Mean chloroplast number per cell increases with ploidy level as mean cell size increases. But in addition the analysis of individual cells clearly shows that cells of a similar size but from species of different ploidies have similar numbers of chloroplasts. We conclude that the number of chloroplasts within a cell is closely correlated (P<0.001) with the size of the cell and this relationship is consistent for species of different ploidies over a wide range of cell sizes. These results are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that chloroplast number in leaf mesophyll cells is determined by the size of the cell.     

Inhibition of OsSWEET11 function in mesophyll cells improves resistance of rice to sheath blight disease

Pathogen–host interaction is a complicated process; pathogens mainly infect host plants to acquire nutrients, especially sugars. Rhizoctonia solani, the causative agent of sheath blight disease, is a major pathogen of rice. However, it is not known how this pathogen obtains sugar from rice plants. In this study, we found that the rice sugar transporter OsSWEET11 is involved in the pathogenesis of sheath blight disease. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and β‐d ‐glucuronidase expression analyses showed that R. solani infection significantly enhanced OsSWEET11 expression in leaves amongst the clade III SWEET members. The analyses of transgenic plants revealed that Ossweet11 mutants were less susceptible, whereas plants overexpressing OsSWEET11 were more susceptible, to sheath blight compared with wild‐type controls, but the yield of OsSWEET11 mutants and overexpressors was reduced. SWEETs become active on oligomerization. Split‐ubiquitin yeast two‐hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation and co‐immunoprecipitation assays showed that mutated OsSWEET11 interacted with normal OsSWEET11. In addition, expression of conserved residue mutated AtSWEET1 inhibited normal AtSWEET1 activity. To analyse whether inhibition of OsSWEET11 function in mesophyll cells is related to defence against this disease, mutated OsSWEET11 was expressed under the control of the Rubisco promoter, which is specific for green tissues. The resistance of transgenic plants to sheath blight disease, but not other disease, was improved, whereas yield production was not obviously affected. Overall, these results suggest that R. solani might acquire sugar from rice leaves by the activation of OsSWEET11 expression. The plants can be protected from infection by manipulation of the expression of OsSWEET11 without affecting the crop yield.     

Variations in leaf anatomical characteristics drive the decrease of mesophyll conductance in poplar under elevated ozone

Decline in mesophyll conductance (g_m) plays a key role in limiting photosynthesis in plants exposed to elevated ozone (O₃). Leaf anatomical traits are known to influence g_m, but the potential effects of O₃-induced changes in leaf anatomy on g_m have not yet been clarified. Here, two poplar clones were exposed to elevated O₃. The effects of O₃ on the photosynthetic capacity and anatomical characteristics were assessed to investigate the leaf anatomical properties that potentially affect g_m. We also conducted global meta-analysis to explore the general response patterns of g_m and leaf anatomy to O₃ exposure. We found that the O₃-induced reduction in g_m was critical in limiting leaf photosynthesis. Changes in liquid-phase conductance rather than gas-phase conductance drive the decline in g_m under elevated O_3, and this effect was associated with thicker cell walls and smaller chloroplast sizes. The effects of O₃ on palisade and spongy mesophyll cell traits and their contributions to g_m were highly genotype-dependent. Our results suggest that, while anatomical adjustments under elevated O₃ may contribute to defense against O₃ stress, they also cause declines in g_m and photosynthesis. These results provide the first evidence of anatomical constraints on g_m under elevated O₃.     

Photosynthetic and morphological functional types from different steppe communities in Inner Mongolia, North China

Morphological functional types and photosynthetic pathway types were identified for the forage species from steppe communities in Inner Mongolia, China, using the data of both field survey and published papers. Seven typical steppe communities were selected to investigate the morphological functional type and photosynthetic pathway type compositions and plant functional type (PFT) diversity in steppe communities at regional scale. Morphological functional types, based on plant height and leaf type combined with life span, were optimal for comparing the community differences in the region, while photosynthetic pathway types were fairly coarse for such studies. Of the seven morphological functional types in the steppe communities, perennial forbs (PEF) were the dominant type, and 60 % of species belonged to this type. Each of the high perennial grass (HPG), short perennial grass (SPG), and annual grass (ANG) types represented less than 10 % of the total, even though the grass species were dominant in the seven steppe communities. The differences of PFTs between the steppe communities were remarkable, and the PFT richness and diversity increased from the communities with moist conditions to the ones with dry environments.This revised version was published online in March 2005 with corrections to the page numbers.     

深圳市建成区入侵植物对草本植物种类及功能多样性的影响

入侵植物对城市生态系统形成潜在威胁,有待引起足够的关注。为探究城市入侵植物对草本植物种类及功能多样性的影响,以深圳市建成区入侵植物鬼针草（Bidens pilosa）和南美蟛蜞菊（Sphagneticola trilobata）为例,分析了不同绿地类型中不同程度的单独入侵和共同入侵对草本植物群落物种多样性和功能多样性的影响规律。结果显示：①Margalef物种丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson优势度指数和Pielou均匀度指数均与入侵植物盖度呈显著负相关（P<0.05,0.5865 < R² < 0.9356）。②功能丰富度指数（FRic）、功能均匀度指数（FEve）和Rao二次熵指数（FD_Q）与入侵植物盖度有一定的相关关系（0.0000 < R² < 0.2211）。③群落的特征加权平均株高（CWM_H）与入侵植物盖度有一定的正相关关系（0.0716 < R² < 0.2262）。④与未入侵的样方相比,鬼针草轻度入侵显著提高了物种多样性（P<0.05）,鬼针草和南美蟛蜞菊单独重度入侵均显著降低物种多样性（P<0.05）,二者各种程度的分别单独入侵及共同入侵都显著提高了群落加权平均株高（CWM_H）（P<0.05）。⑤对不同的绿地类型分开计算发现,鬼针草单独入侵和二者共同入侵都显著提高了各种绿地类型的物种多样性（P<0.05）,南美蟛蜞菊单独入侵只对部分绿地类型的群落物种多样性影响显著。⑥鬼针草和南美蟛蜞菊之间的生态效应可能为拮抗作用。研究结果为进一步揭示植物入侵对城市草本植物群落的影响规律提供参考,为有效防治城市外来植物入侵提供一定的依据。     

On the relationship between leaf anatomy and CO2 diffusion through the mesophyll of hypostomatous leaves

Internal conductances to CO₂ transfer from the stomatal cavity to sites of carboxylation (g_i) in hypostomatous sun-and shade-grown leaves of citrus, peach and Macadamia trees (Lloyd et al. 1992) were related to anatomical characteristics of mesophyll tissues. There was a consistent relationship between absorptance of photosynthetically active radiation and chlorophyll concentration (mmol m^?2) for all leaves, including sclerophyllous Macadamia, whose transmittance was high despite its relatively thick leaves. In thin peach leaves, which had high g_i, the chloro-plast volume and mesophyll surface area exposed to intercellular air spaces (ias) per unit leaf area were similar to those in the thicker leaves of the evergreen species. Peach leaves, however, had the lowest leaf dry weight per area (D/a), the lowest tissue density (T_d) and the highest chloro-plast surface area (S_c) exposed to ias. There were negative correlations between g_i and leaf thickness or D/a, but positive correlations between g_i and S_c or S_c/T_d. We developed a one-dimensional diffusion model which partitioned g_i into a gaseous diffusion conductance through the ias (g_ias) plus a liquid-phase conductance through mesophyll cell walls (g_cw). The model accounted for a significant amount of variation (r₂=0.80) in measured g_i by incorporating both components. The g_ias component was related to the one-dimensional path-length for diffusion across the mesophyll and so was greater in thinner peach leaves than in leaves of evergreen species. The g_cw component was related to tissue density and to the degree of chloroplast exposure to the ias. Thus the negative correlations between g_i and leaf thickness or D/a related to g_ias whereas positive correlations between g_i and S_c or S_c/T_d, related to g_cw. The g_cw was consistently lower than g_ias, and thus represented a greater constraint on CO₂ diffusion in the mesophylls of these hypostomatous species.     

荒漠植物性状权衡策略及功能多样性研究进展

荒漠植物是干旱区具有独特功能性状与资源权衡表征的地带性植物。植物功能性状及其多样性格局与资源权衡策略对群落结构优化和生态系统功能改善起着关键作用。该综述主要从荒漠植物组织、器官功能性状特征、功能性状权衡策略、功能多样性组分及测度3个方面梳理了荒漠植物性状权衡策略与功能多样性研究的进展脉络：1）荒漠植物独特的根、茎、叶功能性状特征揭露了植被对环境变化的响应以及对生态系统功能的影响,基于植物功能性状的研究有助于解决许多生态学的关键性问题;2）作为植物功能性状之间存在的最普遍的联系,权衡策略是经过自然筛选后形成的性状组合,关键性状已经被发掘并创造性的提出了"经济谱"概念。荒漠植物研究过程中,应分析其根、茎、叶的特征属性筛选关键性状,着眼于关键性状间及整株植物性状间的权衡策略;3）功能多样性是影响生态系统运行和发挥作用的生物多样性的重要组成部分,荒漠植物功能多样性能预测和指示群落中物种对于荒漠生态系统功能发挥和过程变化的影响。功能多样性的组分可以从不同角度反映群落的生态位占据状况和资源利用程度,指数的选择要体现在群落内部物种的功能特征之间的差异程度,同时要考虑这些物种自身在群落内的优势程度。本研究为未来荒漠植物功能性状及多样性研究梳理了一些新的研究方向和内容,期望为荒漠植物生理生态学研究的选题和发展提供一些新的思路。     

Chemistry and toughness predict leaf litter decomposition rates over a wide spectrum of functional types and taxa in central Argentina

Litter decomposition, a major determinant of ecosystem functioning, is strongly influenced by the litter quality of different species. We aimed at (1) relating interspecific variation in leaf litter decomposition rate to the functional types different species belong to; and (2) understanding the chemical and/or physical basis for such variation and its robustness to environmental factors. We selected 52 Angiosperms from a climatic gradient in central-western Argentina, representing the widest range of functional types and habitats published so far. Ten litter samples of each species were simultaneously buried for 9 weeks during the 1996 summer in an experimental decomposition bed. Decomposition rate was defined as the percentage of dry mass loss after incubation. Chemical litter quality was measured as carbon (C) content, nitrogen (N) content, and C-to-N ratio. Since tensile strength of litter and living leaves were strongly correlated, the latter was chosen as an indicator of physical litter quality. A subset of 15 species representing different functional types was also incubated in England for 15 weeks, following a similar experimental procedure. Litter C-to-N and leaf tensile strength of the leaves showed the strongest negative associations with decomposition rate, both at the species and at the functional-type level. Decomposition rates of the same species in Argentina and in England were strongly correlated. This reinforces previous evidence that species rankings in terms of litter decomposition rates are robust to methodological and environmental factors. This paper has shown new evidence of plant control over the turnover of organic matter through litter quality, and confirms, over a broad spectrum of functional types, general models of resource allocation. The strong correlations between leaf tensile strength – a trait that is easy and quick to measure in a large number of species – decomposition rate, and C-to-N ratio indicate that leaf tensile strength can be useful in linking plant quality to decomposition patterns at the ecosystem level. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.