Root traits as drivers of plant and ecosystem functioning: current understanding, pitfalls and future research needs

Freschet, Grégoire T.; Roumet, Catherine; Comas, Louise H.; Weemstra, Monique; Bengough, A. Glyn; Rewald, Boris; Bardgett, Richard D.; Deyn, Gerlinde B. De; Johnson, David R.; Klimešová, Jitka; Lukáč, Martin; McCormack, M. Luke; Meier, Ina C.; Pagès, Loïc; Poorter, Hendrik; Prieto, Iván; Wurzburger, Nina; Zadworny, Marcin; Bagniewska‐Zadworna, Agnieszka; Blancaflor, Elison B.; Brunner, Ivano; Geßler, Arthur; Hobbie, Sarah E.; Iversen, Colleen M.; Mommer, Liesje; Picon‐Cochard, Catherine; Postma, Johannes; Rose, Laura; Ryser, Peter; Scherer‐Lorenzen, Michael; Soudzilovskaia, Nadejda A.; Sun, Tao; Valverde‐Barrantes, Oscar J.; Weigelt, Alexandra; York, Larry M.; Stokes, Alexia

doi:10.1111/nph.17072

Cited by 306 publications

(321 citation statements)

References 191 publications

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“…root tissue density and root diameter) in different ways, with differential influences on their composite trait (i.e. SRL), which could explain why variation in SRL along elevation or environmental gradients in general is rarely coordinated with the variation in its component traits (Freschet, Roumet, et al., 2020). Unravelling these mechanisms requires studying roots in greater detail by studying, for example, root anatomical properties (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns in intraspecific variation in root traits are species‐specific along an elevation gradient

et al. 2020

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Patterns in intraspecific variation in root traits are species-specific along an elevation gradient Abstract 1. Intraspecific trait variation is an important driver of plant performance in different environments. Although roots acquire essential resources that vary with the environment, most studies have focused on intraspecific variation in leaf traits, and research on roots is often restricted to a few species. It remains largely unclear how and to what extent root traits vary with the environment and whether general intraspecific patterns exist across species. 2. We compared intraspecific variation in specific root length (SRL), root diameter, root tissue density (RTD) and root branching density of 11 species along a 1000 m elevation gradient in the French Alps. We tested 1) the extent of intra-versus interspecific root trait variation along the gradient, 2) whether intraspecific trait patterns with elevation were consistent among species and 3) whether environmental variables better explained intraspecific variation in root traits than elevation. Specifically, we hypothesised that within a species, root trait values would adjust to enhance resource acquisition (either through an increase in SRL or root diameter, and/or branching density) and/or conservation (increased RTD) at higher elevations. 3. Species identity explained most of the overall variation in root traits. Elevation explained only a minor proportion of intraspecific root trait variation, which varied more strongly within than between elevations. Also, trait relationships with elevation rarely agreed with our hypotheses, Accepted Article This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved varied strongly across species, and were often differently related to environmental variation. Generally, climate, soil and vegetation properties better explained intraspecific root variation than elevation, but these relationships were highly species-dependent. 4. Along complex environmental gradients where multiple properties simultaneously change, roots of different species vary in different ways, leading to species-specific patterns in intraspecific root trait variation. The lack of support for our hypotheses may be caused by the multiple interactions between environmental properties, small-scale soil heterogeneity, species phylogeny, and changing plant-plant interactions. Our findings suggest that, to enhance our understanding of the effects of environmental change on plant performance, we need to better integrate the multiple dimensions of plant responses to change and measure a broader set of root traits and environmental variables.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns in intraspecific variation in root traits are species‐specific along an elevation gradient

et al. 2020

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“…In the initial step the primary root and hypocotyl emerge from the seed. Lateral roots emerge from parent roots depending on branching frequencies defined in space as an inter-branching distance (IBD) (Freschet et al, 2020). IBD is associated with the parent root class as the root tip of the parent root forms the primordia, whereas growth rates of laterals are defined by the lateral root class.…”

Section: Modeling Root Growth In Opensimrootmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Upland-Rice Root Architecture in Relation to Phosphate: 3D Simulations Highlight the Importance of S-Type Lateral Roots for Reducing the Pay-Off Time

2021

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The rice root system develops a large number of nodal roots from which two types of lateral roots branch out, large L-types and fine S-types, the latter being unique to the species. All roots including S-types are covered by root hairs. To what extent these fine structures contribute to phosphate (P) uptake under P deficiency was investigated using a novel 3-D root growth model that treats root hairs as individual structures with their own Michaelis-Menten uptake kinetics. Model simulations indicated that nodal roots contribute most to P uptake followed by L-type lateral roots and S-type laterals and root hairs. This is due to the much larger root surface area of thicker nodal roots. This thickness, however, also meant that the investment in terms of P needed for producing nodal roots was very large. Simulations relating P costs and time needed to recover that cost through P uptake suggest that producing nodal roots represents a considerable burden to a P-starved plant, with more than 20 times longer pay-off time compared to S-type laterals and root hairs. We estimated that the P cost of these fine root structures is low enough to be recovered within a day of their formation. These results expose a dilemma in terms of optimizing root system architecture to overcome P deficiency: P uptake could be maximized by developing more nodal root tissue, but when P is growth-limiting, adding more nodal root tissue represents an inefficient use of the limiting factor P. In order to improve adaption to P deficiency in rice breeding two complementary strategies seem to exist: (1) decreasing the cost or pay-off time of nodal roots and (2) increase the biomass allocation to S-type roots and root hairs. To what extent genotypic variation exists within the rice gene pool for either strategy should be investigated.

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“…Roots were hand sorted, washed and sorted into categories according to their diameter and functionality: rhizomes, very coarse roots with diameter > 5 mm, coarse [27] roots with diameter 2-5 mm and fine roots (< 2 mm). Fine roots were separated into absorptive and transport roots [12]. Two subsamples of roots < 5 mm were scanned and analysed using Winrhizo Pro (Regent Instruments, Canada).…”

Section: Data Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shifts in soil and plant functional diversity along an altitudinal gradient in the French Alps

et al. 2021

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Objectives Altitude integrates changes in environmental conditions that determine shifts in vegetation, including temperature, precipitation, solar radiation and edaphogenetic processes. In turn, vegetation alters soil biophysical properties through litter input, root growth, microbial and macrofaunal interactions. The belowground traits of plant communities modify soil processes in different ways, but it is not known how root traits influence soil biota at the community level. We collected data to investigate how elevation affects belowground community traits and soil microbial and faunal communities. This dataset comprises data from a temperate climate in France and a twin study was performed in a tropical zone in Mexico. Data description The paper describes soil physical and chemical properties, climatic variables, plant community composition and species abundance, plant community traits, soil microbial functional diversity and macrofaunal abundance and diversity. Data are provided for six elevations (1400–2400 m) ranging from montane forest to alpine prairie. We focused on soil biophysical properties beneath three dominant plant species that structure local vegetation. These data are useful for understanding how shifts in vegetation communities affect belowground processes, such as water infiltration, soil aggregation and carbon storage. Data will also help researchers understand how plant communities adjust to a changing climate/environment.

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Root traits as drivers of plant and ecosystem functioning: current understanding, pitfalls and future research needs

Cited by 306 publications

References 191 publications

Patterns in intraspecific variation in root traits are species‐specific along an elevation gradient

Patterns in intraspecific variation in root traits are species‐specific along an elevation gradient

Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Upland-Rice Root Architecture in Relation to Phosphate: 3D Simulations Highlight the Importance of S-Type Lateral Roots for Reducing the Pay-Off Time

Shifts in soil and plant functional diversity along an altitudinal gradient in the French Alps

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