3.3. Relationship of root system architecture traits with LMF
and RMF
The LMF and RMF are two important ecological indicators that can reflect
the biomass allocation of plants to leaves and roots. In the present
study, significantly positive correlation observed between LMF and MRD
(Fig. 5a; R2 = 0.110, P = 0.022). LMF
had highly significant and positive correlation with SRL (Fig. 5c;R2 = 0.268, P = 0.000) and SRA (Fig. 5d;R2 = 0.271, P = 0.000). Significantly
negative correlation was found between LMF and RTD (Fig. 5e;R2 = 0.102, P = 0.022). R RMF had a
highly significant and positive correlation with MRD (Fig. 6a;R2 = 0.173, P = 0.004), but had a highly
significant and negative correlation with RD (Fig. 6b;R2 = 0.183, P = 0.002). Except for the
correlation between RMF and MRD, as well as between LMF and RTD, the
correlation between other traits disappeared after removing the
phylogenetic relationship (Fig. 5-6; Table 3).