Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Root architecture governs plasticity in response to drought

Fry, EL; Evans, AL; Sturrock, CJ; Bullock, JM; Bardgett, RD

Root architecture governs plasticity in response to drought Thumbnail


Authors

EL Fry

AL Evans

CJ Sturrock

JM Bullock

RD Bardgett



Abstract

Aims:
Root characteristics are important for predicting plant and ecosystem responses to resource scarcity. Simple, categorical traits for roots could be broadly applied to ecosystem function and restoration experiments, but they need to be evaluated for their role and behaviour under various stresses, including water limitation. We hypothesised that more complex root architectures allow more plastic responses to limited water than do tap roots.

Methods:
We carried out two greenhouse experiments: one with a range of grassland plant species; the other with only species of Asteraceae to test the responsiveness of root architectural classes to location of limited water in the soil column. Using trait screening techniques and X-ray tomography, we measured the plasticity of the roots in response to water location.

Results:
Plasticity of root biomass was lowest in tap rooted species, while fibrous and rhizomatous roots allocated biomass preferentially to where the soil was wettest. X-ray tomography indicated that root morphology was least plastic in rhizomatous species.

Conclusions:
Our results provide a starting point to effective categorisation of plants in terms of rooting architecture that could aid in understanding drought tolerance of grassland species. They also demonstrate the utility of X-ray tomography in root analyses.

Citation

Fry, E., Evans, A., Sturrock, C., Bullock, J., & Bardgett, R. (2018). Root architecture governs plasticity in response to drought. Plant and Soil, 433, 189-200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-018-3824-1

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 17, 2018
Online Publication Date Oct 25, 2018
Publication Date Dec 1, 2018
Deposit Date Jan 12, 2021
Publicly Available Date Jan 12, 2021
Journal Plant and Soil
Print ISSN 0032-079X
Electronic ISSN 1573-5036
Publisher Springer Verlag
Volume 433
Pages 189-200
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-018-3824-1
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-018-3824-1
Related Public URLs http://link.springer.com/journal/11104
Additional Information Projects : Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and Sustainability programme
Grant Number: NE/J014680/1
Grant Number: 5604-6648

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations