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).