Root tip morphology, anatomy, chemistry and potential hydraulic conductivity vary with soil depth in three temperate hardwood species

Wu, Yan; Dong, Xueyun; Wang, Hongfeng; Wang, Zhengquan; Gu, Jiacun

doi:10.1093/treephys/tpv094

Cited by 52 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…This architectural principle has been confirmed by a number of studies in the stems and branches of trees (e.g., Anfodillo et al, 2006; Petit et al, 2008; Petit and Anfodillo, 2009), but our knowledge on the belowground scaling of xylem conduits is very limited (e.g., Petit et al, 2009; Wang et al, 2015). For the long conducting lateral roots of dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants, Aloni (1987) suggested from a comprehensive review on vascular differentiation a universal pattern of continuous vessel diameter increase with increasing distance to the stem base.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

“…Soil depth-dependent changes in xylem architecture and hydraulic performance of roots have as well only rarely been the object of scientific study (e.g., Gebauer and Volařík, 2013; Maeght et al, 2013; Wang et al, 2015; Pierret et al, 2016). The results of the few existing studies indicate a gradient in root axial hydraulic conductivity as a result of xylem anatomical adaptations with increasing soil depth (Tyree, 2003b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They assumed that vessel diameters in roots at the soil surface are limited in order to avoid cavitation due to freeze-thaw cycles. In three temperate hardwood tree species, a depth-dependent increase in specific hydraulic conductivity was observed in the tree fine root system: first-order roots exhibited 78 to 217% greater specific hydraulic conductivities in the subsurface (20–30 cm soil depth) than in the surface layer (0–10 cm soil depth) in the same species (Wang et al, 2015). In this case, the higher hydraulic efficiency appeared to be not solely a function of wider maximum conduit diameters, but also to result from a higher conduit frequency and greater xylem to cross-sectional area ratio.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Influence of Root Diameter and Soil Depth on the Xylem Anatomy of Fine- to Medium-Sized Roots of Mature Beech Trees in the Top- and Subsoil

et al. 2017

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Despite their importance for water uptake and transport, the xylem anatomical and hydraulic properties of tree roots have only rarely been studied in the field. We measured mean vessel diameter (D), vessel density (VD), relative vessel lumen area (lumen area per xylem area) and derived potential hydraulic conductivity (Kp) in the xylem of 197 fine- to medium-diameter roots (1–10 mm) in the topsoil and subsoil (0–200 cm) of a mature European beech forest on sandy soil for examining the influence of root diameter and soil depth on xylem anatomical and derived hydraulic traits. All anatomical and functional traits showed strong dependence on root diameter and thus root age but no significant relation to soil depth. Averaged over topsoil and deep soil and variable flow path lengths in the roots, D increased linearly with root diameter from ∼50 μm in the smallest diameter class (1–2 mm) to ∼70 μm in 6–7 mm roots (corresponding to a mean root age of ∼12 years), but remained invariant in roots >7 mm. D never exceeded ∼82 μm in the 1–10 mm roots, probably in order to control the risk of frost- or drought-induced cavitation. This pattern was overlain by a high variability in xylem anatomy among similar-sized roots with Kp showing a higher variance component within than between root diameter classes. With 8% of the roots exceeding average Kp in their diameter class by 50–700%, we obtained evidence of the existence of ‘high-conductivity roots’ indicating functional differentiation among similar-sized roots. We conclude that the hydraulic properties of small to medium diameter roots of beech are mainly determined by root age, rendering root diameter a suitable predictor of hydraulic functioning, while soil depth – without referring to path length – had a negligible effect.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Influence of Root Diameter and Soil Depth on the Xylem Anatomy of Fine- to Medium-Sized Roots of Mature Beech Trees in the Top- and Subsoil

et al. 2017

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“…; Wang et al . ). These traits should provide the roots with greater soil penetration ability (Clark, Whalley & Barraclough ; Chimungu, Loades & Lynch ) and greater water conductance capacity than thin roots in shallow soil layers (Ryser ; Hernández et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Root traits are related to plant water‐use among rangeland Mediterranean species

et al. 2017

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. We thank Pascal Chapon for his dedicated technical help, the experimental station 'INRA LA Fage' as well as the 'Terrain d'experience' and 'PACE' platforms at CEFE (technical facilities of the Labex Centre Mediterranean de l'Environnement et de la Biodiversite, CEMEB) for providing all the facilities and technical support. F.F. was supported by a grant from1. Understanding the water-use of plants is timely under increasing drought stress due to climate change. Despite the crucial role of roots in water uptake, relationships between water-use and root traits are seldom considered. 2. Combining a functional trait-based approach with a water balance model, we tested whether root functional traits are related to spatial and temporal water-use among 12 Mediterranean rangeland species grown in common garden monocultures. Soil water content was monitored for 10 months, and the dynamics of water uptake of each species was modelled at a daily time step. Root functional traits were measured at two soil depths (shallow and deep soil). 3. Species with fast resource acquisition strategies in shallow soil, i.e. thin roots, maximised water uptake in a short period and consumed large amounts of water during periods of low water availability. Conversely, species with a more conservative root strategy, i.e. coarse roots, took up less water during the peak-growing season, maintained water uptake over a longer period of time and consumed less water during periods of low water availability. Deep root traits are strongly related to species' ability to take up water from deep soil. Deep roots with large diameters and low specific root length improve species' ability to reach water from deep soil. Biomass investment in the deep soil layer was positively related to the amount of water consumed during periods of low water availability. 4. Our results highlight that root functional traits influence a range of spatial and temporal water-use among Mediterranean rangeland species. They account for the amount of water taken up during dry periods but not during the entire growing season

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“…Inconsistent with our hypothesis, we found no significant correlation between shallow fine root economy traits (first‐order root diameter, SRL, RTD) and deep water utilization parameters across species, suggesting independent dimensions of soil resource acquisition between deep and shallow soil. This is consistent with previous studies showing that the form and function of deep fine roots may exhibit some differences from shallow fine roots (Prieto et al ., ; Wang et al ., ; Fort et al ., ). These variations of root traits along the soil profile are likely the result of root specialization to acquire different resources (Fort et al ., ), because nutrient availability often declines, whereas bulk density tends to increase with soil depth (Schenk, ; Ugawa et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Linking reliance on deep soil water to resource economy strategies and abundance among coexisting understorey shrub species in subtropical pine plantations

et al. 2019

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Summary Strategies for deep soil water acquisition (WAdeep) are critical to a species’ adaptation to drought. However, it is unknown how WAdeep determines the abundance and resource economy strategies of understorey shrub species. With data from 13 understorey shrub species in subtropical coniferous plantations, we investigated associations between the magnitude of WAdeep, the seasonal plasticity of WAdeep, midday leaf water potential (Ψmd), species abundance and resource economic traits across organs. Higher capacity for WAdeep was associated with higher intrinsic water use efficiency, but was not necessary for maintaining higher Ψmd in the dry season nor was it an ubiquitous trait possessed by the most common shrub species. Species with higher seasonal plasticity of WAdeep had lower wood density, indicating that fast species had higher plasticity in deep soil resource acquisition. However, the magnitude and plasticity of WAdeep were not related to shallow fine root economy traits, suggesting independent dimensions of soil resource acquisition between deep and shallow soil. Our results provide new insights into the mechanisms through which the magnitude and plasticity of WAdeep interact with shallow soil and aboveground resource acquisition traits to integrate the whole‐plant economic spectrum and, thus, community assembly processes.

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Root tip morphology, anatomy, chemistry and potential hydraulic conductivity vary with soil depth in three temperate hardwood species

Cited by 52 publications

References 58 publications

Influence of Root Diameter and Soil Depth on the Xylem Anatomy of Fine- to Medium-Sized Roots of Mature Beech Trees in the Top- and Subsoil

Influence of Root Diameter and Soil Depth on the Xylem Anatomy of Fine- to Medium-Sized Roots of Mature Beech Trees in the Top- and Subsoil

Root traits are related to plant water‐use among rangeland Mediterranean species

Linking reliance on deep soil water to resource economy strategies and abundance among coexisting understorey shrub species in subtropical pine plantations

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