Aims Both environmental and genetic factors influence plant growth and foliar chemistry. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the independent and interactive effects of soil community (and soil community diversity), tree genotype, and simulated browsing damage on the growth, biomass allocation and foliar chemistry of Populus tremuloides . Methods We employed a factorial randomized complete block design with four soil treatments of varying diversity, five aspen genotypes, and a simulated ungulate browsing treatment. In the second year of growth, half the trees were subjected to simulated ungulate browsing, and 2 mo later trees were harvested and analyzed for biomass, biomass allocation, and foliar chemistry. Results Tree genotype was the strongest driver of foliar chemistry, but simulated browsing was the strongest driver of plant growth. Soil community influenced plant growth but not foliar chemistry, and soil community effects were rarely modified by tree genotype or simulated browsing. Conclusions While environment and genotype had relatively equal influences on plant growth, tree genotype had a stronger influence than environmental effects (soil and simulated browsing) on foliar chemistry. We also documented negative plant–soil feedbacks for tree biomass. Our results highlight future opportunities for research on the potential effects of soil community diversity on trees.

中文翻译：

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白杨基因型对浏览损伤的反应不受土壤群落多样性的影响

目的 环境和遗传因素都会影响植物生长和叶面化学。本实验的目的是研究土壤群落（和土壤群落多样性）、树木基因型和模拟浏览损伤对杨树的生长、生物量分配和叶面化学的独立和交互影响。方法 我们采用因子随机完全区组设计，包括四种不同多样性的土壤处理、五种白杨基因型和一种模拟有蹄类动物浏览处理。在生长的第二年，一半的树木进行模拟有蹄类动物浏览，2 个月后收获树木并分析生物量、生物量分配和叶面化学。结果树基因型是叶化学的最强驱动力，但模拟浏览是植物生长的最强驱动力。土壤群落影响植物生长但不影响叶面化学，并且土壤群落效应很少受到树木基因型或模拟浏览的影响。结论虽然环境和基因型对植物生长的影响相对相等，但树木基因型对叶化学的影响强于环境影响（土壤和模拟浏览）。我们还记录了树木生物量的负面植物 - 土壤反馈。我们的结果突出了未来研究土壤群落多样性对树木的潜在影响的机会。树木基因型对叶化学的影响比环境影响（土壤和模拟浏览）更大。我们还记录了树木生物量的负面植物 - 土壤反馈。我们的结果突出了未来研究土壤群落多样性对树木的潜在影响的机会。树木基因型对叶化学的影响比环境影响（土壤和模拟浏览）更大。我们还记录了树木生物量的负面植物 - 土壤反馈。我们的结果突出了未来研究土壤群落多样性对树木的潜在影响的机会。