Root functional traits explain root exudation rate and composition across a range of grassland species

Williams, Alex; Langridge, Holly; Straathof, Angela L.; Muhamadali, Howbeer; Hollywood, Katherine A.; Goodacre, Royston; Vries, Franciska T. de

doi:10.1111/1365-2745.13630

Cited by 97 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 48 publications

(93 reference statements)

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“…(2020) demonstrated that SRL is not positioned on the root conservation gradient but on an independent PC axis related to the ‘collaboration gradient’ that has evolved in concert with symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi. This novel global conceptualization of belowground trait space has now also been observed in more local and regional studies (Spitzer et al ., 2021; Stock et al ., 2021; Sun et al ., 2021; Sweeney et al ., 2021; Williams et al ., 2021). The key traits along this gradient are mean root diameter (RD) and SRL.…”

Section: An Integrated Framework Of Plant Form and Function – Linking Above‐ And Belowground Traitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An integrated framework of plant form and function: the belowground perspective

et al. 2021

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Section: An Integrated Framework Of Plant Form and Function – Linking Above‐ And Belowground Traitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An integrated framework of plant form and function: the belowground perspective

et al. 2021

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“…Recent studies suggest that root exudates represent a major pathway by which plant species diversity enhances soil carbon storage via increased microbial activity (Lange et al ., 2015; Eisenhauer et al ., 2017; Sokol et al ., 2019). Root exudates also vary in their chemical composition between plant functional groups, species and genotypes, and can be modified by environmental factors (Micallef et al ., 2009; El Moujahid et al ., 2017; de Vries et al ., 2019; Dietz et al ., 2020; Williams et al ., 2021). Therefore, root exudate quantity and quality could represent an important but unexplored mechanistic link between plant genetic and functional diversity and soil functioning.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional diversity and identity of plant genotypes regulate rhizodeposition and soil microbial activity

2021

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 Our understanding of the linkages between plant diversity and soil carbon and nutrient cycling is primarily derived from studies at the species level, while the importance and mechanisms of diversity effects at the genotype level are poorly understood.  Here we examined how genotypic diversity and identity, and associated variation in functional traits, within a common grass species Anthoxanthum odoratum modified rhizodeposition, soil microbial activity and litter decomposition.  Root litter quality was not significantly affected by plant genotypic diversity but decomposition was enhanced in soils with the legacy of higher genotypic diversity.Plant genotypic diversity and identity modified rhizodeposition and associated microbial activity via two independent pathways. Plant genotypic diversity enhanced soil functioning via positive effects on variation in specific leaf area and total rhizodeposition. Genotype identity affected both rhizodeposit quantity and quality, and these effects were mediated by differences in mean specific leaf area, shoot mass and plant height. Rhizodeposition was more strongly predicted by aboveground than belowground traits, suggesting strong linkages between photosynthesis and root exudation.  Our study demonstrates that functional diversity and identity of plant genotypes modulates belowground carbon supply and quality, representing an important but overlooked pathway by which biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning.

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“…The organic acids have been reported to be as efficient in causing RPE as energetically more favourable substrates (Jilling et al., 2021; Keiluweit et al., 2015). While plant traits are correlated with amounts and composition of root C inputs (Williams et al., 2021), it is still unclear how they affect decomposition of different SOC pools.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Divergent contributions of living roots to turnover of different soil organic carbon pools and their links to plant traits

et al. 2021

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Rhizodeposits and root litter contribute critically to soil organic carbon (SOC) formation and decomposition. This root‐induced SOC turnover shows great interspecific variations. Bulk SOC consists of diverse functional pools differing in formation and stabilization. Yet, it remains unclear which plant traits regulate the effects of living roots on the turnover of different SOC pools across species. By performing 13CO2 continuous labelling of six grassland species for a growing season in a climate‐controlled chamber, we quantified the contributions of living roots to the dynamics of the fast‐cycling particulate organic C and the slow‐cycling mineral‐associated organic C, and explored their relations to plant traits. The results showed that new root‐derived SOC varied more than threefold among the six species. The variation in new root‐derived SOC was best explained by the ratio of shoot to root biomass. Plant species with higher shoot:root ratio formed more new root‐derived SOC. Most of the root‐derived C (72%) was incorporated into the particulate organic C pool. All species caused positive rhizosphere priming effects (RPE), which varied sevenfold across species. Among plant traits, specific root length was the best predictor of interspecific variations in the RPE, with greater RPE associated with higher specific root length. Most of the RPE (70%) occurred in the mineral‐associated organic C pool. Our results also showed that most plant species caused more old SOC decomposition via the RPE than new SOC formation, leading to net SOC losses, especially for the mineral‐associated organic C pool. Overall, we provide novel insights into the effects of plant traits on root‐induced turnover of particulate and mineral‐associated organic C. Our findings should be valuable for understanding how specific plant traits regulate SOC accumulation and stabilization. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

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Root functional traits explain root exudation rate and composition across a range of grassland species

Abstract: This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as

Cited by 97 publications

References 48 publications

An integrated framework of plant form and function: the belowground perspective

An integrated framework of plant form and function: the belowground perspective

Functional diversity and identity of plant genotypes regulate rhizodeposition and soil microbial activity

Divergent contributions of living roots to turnover of different soil organic carbon pools and their links to plant traits

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