Seedling root responses to soil moisture and the identification of a belowground trait spectrum across three growth forms

The New Phytologist
Julie E Larson, Jennifer L Funk

Abstract

Root trait variation and plasticity could be key factors differentiating plant performance under drought. However, water manipulation and root measurements are rarely coupled empirically across growth forms to identify whether belowground strategies are generalizable across species. We measured seedling root traits across three moisture levels in 18 Mediterranean forbs, grasses, and woody species. Drought increased the root mass fraction (RMF) and decreased the relative proportion of thin roots (indicated by increased root diameters and decreased specific root length (SRL)), rates of root elongation and growth, plant nitrogen uptake, and plant growth. Although responses varied across species, plasticity was not associated with growth form. Woody species differed from forbs and grasses in many traits, but herbaceous groups were similar. Across water treatments, trait correlations suggested a single spectrum of belowground trade-offs related to resource acquisition and plant growth. While effects of SRL and RMF on plant growth shifted with drought, root elongation rate consistently represented this spectrum. We demonstrate that general patterns of root morphology and plasticity are identifiable across diverse species. Root trait ...Continue Reading

References

Jun 18, 1999·American Journal of Botany·D L Bell, S E Sultan
Apr 23, 2004·Nature·Ian J WrightRafael Villar
Apr 12, 2005·The New Phytologist·Ian J WrightMark Westoby
Jul 7, 2005·The New Phytologist·M G TjoelkerD Tilman
Apr 13, 2006·The New Phytologist·Catherine RoumetSandra Díaz
May 17, 2006·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Brian J McGillMark Westoby
Apr 23, 2009·The New Phytologist·L H Comas, D M Eissenstat
Jun 13, 2012·The New Phytologist·M Luke McCormackDavid M Eissenstat
Aug 7, 2012·The New Phytologist·Liesje Mommer, Monique Weemstra
Nov 10, 2013·Frontiers in Plant Science·Louise H ComasDavid A Dierig
Nov 28, 2013·Ecology·Jennifer L Funk, William K Cornwell
Sep 30, 2014·The New Phytologist·Jeffrey M WarrenStan D Wullschleger
May 1, 1994·Oecologia·D G Williams, R A Black
Nov 1, 2012·Functional Plant Biology : FPB·Hendrik PoorterJohannes A Postma

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 1, 2017·The New Phytologist·Colleen M IversenCyrille Violle
Jun 1, 2017·The New Phytologist·Richard J Norby, Colleen M Iversen
Jul 5, 2019·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Nancy C Emery, Raffica J La Rosa
Jun 25, 2019·Frontiers in Plant Science·Ivano BrunnerArthur Gessler
Apr 23, 2016·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Jennifer L FunkJustin Wright
Mar 6, 2019·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Susan Harrison, Marina LaForgia
Apr 21, 2019·The New Phytologist·Justin M VallierePhilip W Rundel
Apr 3, 2020·American Journal of Botany·Julia I BurtonKlaus J Puettmann
Feb 26, 2021·Ecology·Jennifer L FunkJoni Ricks-Oddie
Nov 24, 2017·American Journal of Botany·Monica A NguyenJennifer L Funk
Oct 22, 2021·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Hsiao-Hsuan Chu, Claire Farrell

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.