Dioecious plants show sexual dimorphism in their phosphorus(P)availability responses.However,the understanding of sex-specific strategies for P utilization and acquisition under varying soil moisture levels remains unclear.Here,we assessed a range of root functional traits,soil P properties,total foliar P concentration([P])and leaf chemical P fractions-inorganic P([Pi]),metabolite P([PM]),lipid P([PL]),nucleic acid P([PN])and residual P([PR])-as well as other leaf functional traits in female and male trees under different soil moisture levels(25%for high and 7%for low).Our results showed that females had larger specific root length under well-watered conditions,resulting in greater root foraging capacity.This led to a 36.3%decrease in soil active[Pi]in the rhizosphere and a 66.9%increase in total foliar[P],along with all five foliar chemical P fractions([Pi],[PM],[PL],[PN]and[PR])compared with males.However,males exhibited significantly higher photosynthetic P utilization efficiency than females.Especially under low soil moisture levels,males exhibited a significant reduction in soil active organic P,coupled with a large increase in the exudation of soil phosphatases and carboxylates.Furthermore,the proportion of[PM]in total foliar[P]was 42.0%higher in males than in females.Mantel and Spearman correlation analyses revealed distinct coordination and trade-offs between foliar P fraction allocation and below-ground P acquisition strategies between the two sexes.Leveraging these sex-specific strategies could enhance the resilience of dioecious populations in forest plantations facing climate-induced variability.
