Tree Nutrition and Physiology

Trees rely on a coordinated interplay of nutrient acquisition, transport and metabolic regulation to support growth, reproduction and stress resilience. Essential macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and secondary elements) and trace micronutrients enter soil solution by mineral weathering, organic matter decomposition and symbiotic partnerships. Fine roots and mycorrhizal fungi extend the absorptive surface, mobilising sparingly soluble phosphates and exchanging carbon for mineral nutrients. Within foliage, stomatal pores mediate gas exchange and water‐driven sap flow on the transpiration stream, sustaining photosynthesis yet also creating hydraulic risk under drought. Nutrient‐rich photosynthates are allocated through xylem and phloem to meristems, developing wood and defence systems. Hormonal signals—particularly abscisic acid—coordinate root–shoot communication under water stress, closing stomata to conserve water while upregulating osmotic adjustment and antioxidant metabolism. A dynamic balance between uptake, internal recycling and storage in woody tissues underpins nutrient homeostasis, enabling trees to exploit seasonal pulses of water and mineral availability and to withstand environmental extremes across decades or centuries.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Comparative studies of two willow species from contrasting habitats have revealed distinct morphological and physiological strategies for coping with salt stress. The salt‐tolerant species maintains higher rates of root Na⁺ efflux, leaf osmotic adjustment and shoot vitality under salinity, linked to elevated cuticular wax deposition and robust antioxidant responses. Urban roadside investigations into common horse chestnut indicate that de‐icing salt accumulation causes severe K⁺ deficiency and Mg²⁺ depletion, driving foliar injury more strongly than chloride content per se. Controlled salt exposures of a desert poplar transcriptome uncovered a complex regulatory network in which calcium signalling, hormone transduction and carbohydrate metabolism genes are mobilised within hours of salt shock, highlighting early‐warning circuits in salt‐tolerant genotypes. Complementary work on a drought‐adapted poplar species has charted dynamic gene expression responses to exogenous abscisic acid, demonstrating a peak in stress‐responsive transcription factors and revealing the temporal choreography of hormone‐mediated resilience pathways.

Tree Nutrition and Physiology publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in tree nutrition and physiology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Macronutrient: An element required in large amounts by trees for structural and metabolic functions (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium).

Micronutrient: A trace element essential for enzymatic or physiological processes (e.g. iron, manganese, zinc).

Ion homeostasis: The regulation of intracellular and xylem/phloem ion concentrations to avoid toxicity and support turgor under varying soil salinity.

Osmotic adjustment: Accumulation of compatible solutes (sugars, amino acids) in cells to maintain water uptake and volume under drought or salt stress.

Ectomycorrhiza: A symbiotic association between certain fungi and tree roots, forming a sheath around roots and enhancing nutrient and water uptake.

References

1. Morphological and physiological responses of two willow species from different habitats to salt stress. Scientific Reports (2020).
2. Effect of NaCl road salt on the ionic composition of soils and Aesculus hippocastanum L. foliage and leaf damage intensity. Scientific Reports (2021).
3. Integrated regulatory network reveals the early salt tolerance mechanism of Populus euphratica. Scientific Reports (2017).
4. Dynamic changes in the transcriptome of Populus hopeiensis in response to abscisic acid. Scientific Reports (2017).
5. Large Chestnut Trees Did Not Respond to Annual Fertiliser Applications, Requiring a Long-Term Approach to Establishing Effective Fertilisation Plans. Soil Systems (2023).
6. Organic Fertilization and Tree Orchards. Agriculture (2021).