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Abstract

Understanding the impact of edaphic factors on leaf functional traits is crucial for predicting plant responses to global climate change; however, substantial knowledge gaps remain regarding how leaf trait respond to soil factors under changing climatic conditions. This study examined leaf functional trait variation in a Himalayan shrub Rubus ellipticus across soil gradients using multiple linear mixed effect model and generalized additive mixed model approaches. Among morphological traits plant height and leaf area responded positively to soil pH, calcium (Ca) and total nitrogen (TN) but declined consistently with potassium (K) and electrical conductivity (EC) demonstrating soil fertility promotes biomass accumulation whereas ionic imbalance constrain growth. Anatomical traits exhibited sclerenchyma thickness and trichome density enhanced with TOC and stomatal density with TN whereas metaxylem vessel area and stomatal density significantly reduced with TN and Ca respectively reflecting shifts in structural defense and allocation patterns. Physiological traits i.e., proline, total soluble sugars (TSS), chlorophylls and carotenoids were positively associated with pH, EC and TOC but declined strongly with K suggesting nutrient and ion-mediated regulation of osmotic adjustment and pigment investment. Correlation analysis revealed that anatomical traits were more tightly coordinated than physiological traits, while several trait groups responded independently, indicating partial decoupling across functional dimensions. Multivariate analysis showed distinct trait-soil association patterns, reflecting divergent resource use strategies. The study suggests that high variance in different sets of leaf functional traits in Rubus ellipticus differ greatly in adaptability to soil conditions and decoupling of leaf functional traits suggests that plant traits can vary self-sufficiently for more possible plant trait assemblages

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