Supporting information
Table S1 . 18 C4 grasses, along with biochemical subtype and evolutionary lineage, used in the current study (Adapted from Pathare et al ., 2020).
Table S2 . Mean ± SE (n = 3 to 6) values along with the corresponding letters of post-hoc Tukey’s test for important leaf level traits measured in 18 C4 grasses.
Table S3 . Results of one-way ANOVA with species as main effects for the traits measured in 18 C4 grasses.
Table S4 . Component loadings for important leaf level traits determined on 18 diverse C4 grasses.
Fig. S1 Representation of the anatomical traits associated with mesophyll conductance to CO2 (gm) and leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) measured in current study.
Figure S2 : Relationship between total vein length per unit leaf area (total VLA) and interveinal distance (IVD).
Figure S3: Relationship between abaxial and adaxial distance from vein to epidermis (VED) in C4 grasses.
Figure S4 : Relationship between average vein to the epidermis distance and leaf thickness in C4 grasses.
Figure S5. Relationship of mean annual precipitation with (a) mesophyll surface area exposed to intercellular air space (Smes), (b) extent of Smes covered by chloroplast (Sc), (c) mesophyll conductance (gm), (d) mesophyll cell wall thickness (MCW), (e) adaxial stomatal density (SDada), (f) abaxial stomatal density (SDaba) and stomatal ratio (SR) for the 18 C4 grasses.
Figure S6. Relationship of mean annual precipitation with (a) total maximum stomatal conductance to water vapor (gmax) , (b) maximum stomatal conductance to water vapor for adaxial side (gmax-ada), (c) maximum stomatal conductance to water vapor for abaxial side (gmax-aba), (d) N content per unit leaf area (Narea), (e) stomatal conductance to water (gsw), (f) leaf thickness and (g) average vein to epidermis distance (VED) for the 18 C4 grasses.
Figure S7. Relationship of mean annual precipitation with (a) vein to adaxial epidermis distance (VEDada), (b) vein to abaxial epidermis distance (VEDaba), (c) interveinal distance (IVD), (d) Bundle sheath cell wall thickness (BSCW), (e) BS exposed to intercellular air space (BSias), (f) BS area ratio (calculated as (BS area/ [BS area + Mesophyll area])) and (g) leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) for the 18 C4 grasses.
Figure S8. Relationship of mesophyll conductance to CO2 (gm) with (a) mesophyll surface area exposed to intercellular air spaces (Smes), (b) Mesophyll (M) cell wall thickness (MCW), (c) adaxial stomatal density (SDada), (d) stomatal ratio or ratio of adaxial to abaxial stomatal density (SR), (e) abaxial stomatal density (SDaba), (f) stomatal conductance to water (gsw), (g) maximum stomatal conductance for abaxial side (gmax-aba) and (h) net CO2 assimilation rates (Anet) for the 18 C4 grasses.
Figure S9. Boxplot showing habitat (a) mean annual precipitation and (b) mean annual temperature for 18 C4grasses measured in current study.
Table 1. Relations between habitat climate variables (MAP and MAT) and important anatomical, stomatal and functional traits associated with carbon gain and water use in 18 diverse C4 grasses.