Aerial root hydraulic conductivity increases with plant size for the aroid vine Rhodospatha oblongata (Araceae)

Filartiga, Arinawa Liz; Vieira, Ricardo Cardoso; Mantovani, André

doi:10.20870/jph.2017.e006

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…The ascent of the aroid vine R. oblongata to the canopy is marked by changes in its body size, with production of larger leaves, supported by longer and larger petioles, and connected to thicker and shorter internodes (Filartiga et al, 2014). Meanwhile, more and wider aerial roots with wider xylem vessels are produced (Filartiga et al, 2018). The data reported here show morphophysiological changes in the roots of R. oblongata that improve the water and light use of their roots along their transition from soil to canopy conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The allomorphic aroid vine Rhodospatha oblongata increases in size towards the canopy, producing more and larger (i.e. external diameter) aerial roots of both anchor and feeder types (Filartiga et al, 2018). Moreover, independently of size, both aerial roots show colour changes according to the degree of maturation (Filartiga et al, 2014), suggesting root modifications at the dermal level.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Root morphophysiology changes during the habitat transition from soil to canopy of the aroid vine Rhodospatha oblongata

et al. 2020

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Background and Aims The aroid vine Rhodospatha oblongata is characterized by a habitat change from terrestrial to canopy, relying on aerial roots at maturity to obtain water and nutrients from the forest soil. We hypothesize that morpho-physiological acclimation occurs in roots as they grow under atmospheric conditions. These changes would guarantee the whole plant survival of aroid vines in the new and potentially stressful habitat of the canopy. Methods Terrestrial and aerial roots were compared on a morpho-physiological basis. Root anatomy, water balance, water absorption capacity via fluorescent tracer, and photochemical activity via chlorophyll fluorescence were measured. Key Results While thin fasciculate roots occur on terrestrial crawling individuals, two clearly distinct aerial roots (anchor and feeder) are produced on canopy individuals, which are both adhered to the host trunk. The color of both aerial roots change during development from red and brownish to striped and green at maturity. Color changes are induced by the replacement of epidermis, exodermis, and outer cortex by an inner layer of lignified cork on the root region exposed to the atmosphere. In the root region that is in contact with the host, covering substitutions do not occur and both exodermis and lignified cork, along with several epidermal hairs, appear. Water retention capacity was higher in green roots than in other root types. Rehydration capacity via water absorption by hairs of aerial roots was confirmed by fluorescence. Chlorophyll fluorescence data indicated low levels of photosynthetic capacity in both root types. Conclusions Plants should evolve strategies to survive stress situations. The transition from soil to canopy imposes abiotic changes and potentially stressful situations to R. oblongata. We conclude that the morpho-physiological changes observed represent an important strategy that permits the maintenance of aroid roots and the survival of R. oblongata in the canopy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root morphophysiology changes during the habitat transition from soil to canopy of the aroid vine Rhodospatha oblongata

et al. 2020

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“…This habitat transition from terrestrial to epiphytic is associated with the nodal production of two forms of aerial roots. Short, branched anchor roots attach the stem firmly to the host trunk, while long and unbranched feeder roots grow downward to reach the soil and establish new hydraulic plant-soil linkages [11][12][13]. Early in the developmental stage when the young plants have climbed to heights of 1-2 m there is a characteristic senescence of the base of the main stem, cutting off uptake of moisture from the rhizome [9,[13][14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential Species Richness and Ecological Success of Epiphytes and Hemiepiphytes of Neotropical Araceae and Cyclanthaceae

Riordan,

Gerst,

Vargas Ramirez

et al. 2023

Plants

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Numerous plant functional traits of ecophysiology and morphology associated with an epiphytic life history have promoted relatively high rates of evolutionary diversification and ecological success in tropical families such as the Orchidaeae, Polypodiaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Cactaceae. Epiphytic life histories are relatively uncommon in the Araceae and rare in the Cyclanthaceae which lack key functional traits for epiphytism. Only two lineages of Neotropical Araceae, Anthurium and Philodendron, include examples of epiphyte life histories. The evolution of a hemiepiphytic life history represented an important development for tropical Araceae by providing functional traits that have greatly expanded opportunities for adaptive radiation and ecological success as indicated by species richness and frequency of occurrence. The key adaptive trait allowing the diversification of hemiepiphytic Araceae was the development of heteroblastic growth of leaves and stems. Although hemiepiphytic life histories are present in the Cyclanthaceae, the family has undergone only modest speciation and limited ecological success in both its epiphytes and hemiepiphytes. Extensive sampling of more than 4600 trees from primary forest on four soil groups in northeastern Costa Rica have found a modest diversity of 15 species of epiphytic Araceae but only two species of epiphytic Cyclanthaceae. In contrast, 38 species of hemiepiphytic Araceae and 5 species of hemiepiphytic Cyclanthaceae were sampled, indicating relatively limited adaptive radiation of hemiepiphytic Cyclanthaceae and lower ecological success. Using summed values of frequency of occurrence as a measure of ecological success, epiphytic Araceae were 18 to 42 times more frequent than epiphytic Cyclanthaceae in swamp, alluvial, and residual soil forests. Summed frequencies of occurrence of hemiepiphytic Araceae were 7 to 13 times higher than those of hemiepiphytic Cyclanthaceae. The four soil groups were similar in their floristic composition of epiphytic and hemiepiphytic Araceae and Cyclanthaceae, but the frequencies of occurrence of both epiphytes and hemiepiphytes were, with few exceptions, highest on swamp soil plots, with alluvial soil plots slightly less favorable.

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Photosynthetic activity increases with leaf size and intercellular spaces in an allomorphic lianescent aroid Rhodospatha oblongata

Mantuano

Ornellas

Aidar

et al. 2021

Functional Plant Biol.

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This study aimed to investigate leaf anatomy, as well as photosynthetic gas exchange, that underlie the improvement in light foraging capacity, which appears to occur in aroid vines seeking light exposure. Three levels of plant height (soil level, 3 m and 6 m) were categorised for the aroid vine Rhodospatha oblongata Poepp. to represent the transition from ground to canopy. Compared with shaded leaves, leaves exposed to high light conditions were thicker, presenting a larger, spongy parenchyma characterised by a larger transversal area of intercellular spaces. In addition to the increase in maximum CO2 assimilation (Amax) and thicker and larger leaf lamina, we found an increased light saturation point, light compensation point and water use efficiency at 500 µmol PPFD. Nitrogen content per leaf dry mass remained constant across habitats, but Amax/N was 1.5-times greater in the canopy position than in the leaves at soil level, suggesting that CO2 gain did not rely on an N-related biochemical apparatus. The lower δ13C discrimination observed at high canopy leaves corroborated the higher photosynthesis. Altogether, these results suggest that the large and exposed aroid leaves maintained carbon gain coupled with light gain through investing in a more efficient proportion of intercellular spaces and photosynthetic cell surface, which likely allowed a less pronounced CO2 gradient in substomatal-intercellular space.

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Aerial root hydraulic conductivity increases with plant size for the aroid vine Rhodospatha oblongata (Araceae)

Cited by 3 publications

References 27 publications

Root morphophysiology changes during the habitat transition from soil to canopy of the aroid vine Rhodospatha oblongata

Root morphophysiology changes during the habitat transition from soil to canopy of the aroid vine Rhodospatha oblongata

Differential Species Richness and Ecological Success of Epiphytes and Hemiepiphytes of Neotropical Araceae and Cyclanthaceae

Photosynthetic activity increases with leaf size and intercellular spaces in an allomorphic lianescent aroid Rhodospatha oblongata

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