Ecophysiological traits in C3 and C4 grasses: a phylogenetically controlled screening experiment.

•Experimental evidence demonstrates a higher efficiency of water and nitrogen use in C₄ compared with C₃ plants, which is hypothesized to drive differences in biomass allocation between C₃ and C₄ species. However, recent work shows that contrasts between C₃ and C₄ grasses may be misinterpreted without phylogenetic control. •Here, we compared leaf physiology and growth in multiple lineages of C₃ and C₄ grasses sampled from a monophyletic clade, and asked the following question: which ecophysiological traits differ consistently between photosynthetic types, and which vary among lineages? •C₄ species had lower stomatal conductance and water potential deficits, and higher water-use efficiency than C₃ species. Photosynthesis and nitrogen-use efficiency were also greater in C₄ species, varying markedly between clades. Contrary to previous studies, leaf nitrogen concentration was similar in C₄ and C₃ types. Canopy mass and area were greater, and root mass smaller, in the tribe Paniceae than in most other lineages. The size of this phylogenetic effect on biomass partitioning was greater in the C₄ NADP-me species than in species of other types. •Our results show that the phylogenetic diversity underlying C₄ photosynthesis is critical to understanding its functional consequences. Phylogenetic bias is therefore a crucial factor to be considered when comparing the ecophysiology of C₃ and C₄ species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]