Response of Ulmus americana seedlings to varying nitrogen and water status. 1 Photosynthesis and growth

Well-watered American elm (Ulmus americana L.) seedlings responded to increased nitrate availability with increased leaf nitrogen (N) concentration and photosynthetic rate, larger and more numerous leaves, greater total growth and greater proportional allocation of carbon to shoot than root. Plasticity of growth and carbon allocation were greater than plasticity of N concentration and photosynthetic capacity. For a given N availability, allocation of N per unit leaf area was positively correlated with dry mass per unit leaf area (specific leaf mass), but these relationships differed with N availability. Rates of net photosynthesis and leaf conductance declined logarithmically with decreasing predawn water status. Increased water stress resulted in a greater relative decline in net photosynthesis and leaf conductance for high-N than low-N plants.