Leaf mesophyll traits of <i>Cirsium arvense</i> and <i>Artemisia vulgaris</i> in relation to their harmfulness in agroecosystems

Abstract Weed harmfulness is linked to the plant functional traits. The two widely dispersed weeds, Cirsium arvense and Artemisia vulgaris, are similar in taxonomic and ecological terms, but they differ by abundance in agroecosystems. We studied 25 leaf, mesophyll, cell and chloroplast traits of these species in two habitats: ‘ruderal’ (roadside meadow) and ‘agricultural’ (ploughed field). Independently of habitat, C. arvense had higher leaf thickness (LT) and leaf mass per area, but lower leaf density (LD) than A. vulgaris . The mesophyll cell volume ( V cell ) was threefold larger, with twice the chloroplast number per cell (Chl) in C. arvense compared to A. vulgaris . In the ruderal habitat, there was no difference between species in net assimilation rate ( A max ) and integrated mesophyll traits—the total mesophyll and chloroplast surface area per leaf area unit ( A mes / A , A chl / A ). In the agricultural habitat, C. arvense exhibited a threefold increase in A max , accompanied by a twofold rise in A mes / A and A chl / A , exceeding the common values reported for mesophytic perennial non‐weeds. A. vulgaris showed no change in A mes / A and A chl / A , with A max increasing by only 30%. Common features of both weeds in agricultural conditions were an increased up to 60% contribution of spongy to mesophyll traits, enhanced photosynthetic activity of a chloroplast and elevated rate of CO 2 transfer through cell and chloroplast surfaces. We conclude that large V cell related to high LT and low LD, as well as the high spongy proportion and plasticity in A mes / A and A chl / A contribute to the success of C. arvense in agricultural environments.