Interspecific differences in functional traits are a key factor for explaining the positive
diversity–productivity relationship in plant communities. However, the role of intraspecific
variation attributable to phenotypic plasticity in diversity–productivity relationships has
largely been overlooked. By taking a wheat (Triticum aestivum)–maize (Zea mays) intercrop
as an elementary example of mixed vegetation, we show that plasticity in plant traits is an
important factor contributing to complementary light capture in species mixtures. We …

Interspecific differences in functional traits are a key factor for explaining the positive
diversity-productivity relationship in plant communities. However, the role of intraspecific
variation attributable to phenotypic plasticity in diversity-productivity relationships has largely
been overlooked. By taking a wheat (Triticum aestivum)-maize (Zea mays) intercrop as an
elementary example of mixed vegetation, we show that plasticity in plant traits is an
important factor contributing to complementary light capture in species mixtures. We …