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Ma JG, Wang XB, Hou FJ. A general pattern of plant traits and their relationships with environmental factors and microbial life-history strategies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 931:172670. [PMID: 38679109 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The trait-based unidimensional plant economics spectrum provides a valuable framework for understanding plant adaptation strategies to the environment. However, it is still uncertain whether there is a general multidimensionality of how variation of both leaf and fine root traits are influenced by environmental factors, and how these relate to microbial resource strategies. Here, we examined the coordination patterns of four pairs of similar leaf and fine root traits of herbaceous plants in an alpine meadow at the community-level, and their environmental driving patterns. We then assessed their correlation with microbial life-history strategies, as these exhibit analogous resource strategies with plants in terms of growth and resource utilization efficiency. Results exhibited an analogous multidimensionality of the economics spectrum for leaf and fine root traits: the first dimension, collaboration gradient, primarily represented a tradeoff between lifespan and resource foraging efficiency; the second dimension, conservation gradient, primarily represented a tradeoff between conservation and acquisition in resource uptake. Climate variables had a stronger impact on both dimensions for leaf and fine root traits than soil variables did; whereas, the primary drivers were more complex for fine root traits than for leaf traits. The collaboration gradient of leaf and fine root traits exhibited consistent relationships with soil microbial life-history strategies, both showed negative and positive correlation with bacterial and fungal strategies, respectively. Our findings suggest that both leaves and fine roots have general multidimensional strategies for adapting to new environments and provide a solid basis for further understanding the relationships between the adaptive strategies of plants and microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Guo Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, and College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China.
| | - Xiao-Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, and College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China.
| | - Fu-Jiang Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, and College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China.
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Wang M, Kong D, Mo X, Wang Y, Yang Q, Kardol P, Valverde-Barrantes OJ, Simpson MJ, Zeng H, Reich PB, Bergmann J, Tharayil N, Wang J. Molecular-level carbon traits underlie the multidimensional fine root economics space. NATURE PLANTS 2024; 10:901-909. [PMID: 38740944 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-024-01700-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Carbon influences the evolution and functioning of plants and their roots. Previous work examining a small number of commonly measured root traits has revealed a global multidimensionality of the resource economics traits in fine roots considering carbon as primary currency but without considering the diversity of carbon-related traits. To address this knowledge gap, we use data from 66 tree species from a tropical forest to illustrate that root economics space co-varies with a novel molecular-level traits space based on nuclear magnetic resonance. Thinner fine roots exhibit higher proportions of carbohydrates and lower diversity of molecular carbon than thicker roots. Mass-denser fine roots have more lignin and aromatic carbon compounds but less bioactive carbon compounds than lighter roots. Thus, the transition from thin to thick fine roots implies a shift in the root carbon economy from 'do-it-yourself' soil exploration to collaboration with mycorrhizal fungi, while the shift from light to dense fine roots emphasizes a shift from acquisitive to conservative root strategy. We reveal a previously undocumented role of molecular-level carbon traits that potentially undergird the multidimensional root economics space. This finding offers new molecular insight into the diversity of root form and function, which is fundamental to our understanding of plant evolution, species coexistence and adaptations to heterogeneous environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengke Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Deliang Kong
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| | - Xiaohan Mo
- School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yinghui Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Qingpei Yang
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Paul Kardol
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Oscar J Valverde-Barrantes
- Department of Biological Sciences, International Center for Tropical Biodiversity, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Myrna J Simpson
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hui Zeng
- School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Peter B Reich
- Department of Forest Resources University of Minnesota St, Paul, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Institute for Global Change Biology and School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Joana Bergmann
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Nishanth Tharayil
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Junjian Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
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Du P, Zhu YH, Weiner J, Sun Z, Li H, Feng T, Li FM. Reduced Root Cortical Tissue with an Increased Root Xylem Investment Is Associated with High Wheat Yields in Central China. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1075. [PMID: 38674484 PMCID: PMC11054696 DOI: 10.3390/plants13081075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Trait-based approaches are increasingly used to understand crop yield improvement, although they have not been widely applied to anatomical traits. Little is known about the relationships between root and leaf anatomy and yield in wheat. We selected 20 genotypes that have been widely planted in Luoyang, in the major wheat-producing area of China, to explore these relationships. A field study was performed to measure the yields and yield components of the genotypes. Root and leaf samples were collected at anthesis to measure the anatomical traits relevant to carbon allocation and water transport. Yield was negatively correlated with cross-sectional root cortex area, indicating that reduced root cortical tissue and therefore reduced carbon investment have contributed to yield improvement in this region. Yield was positively correlated with root xylem area, suggesting that a higher water transport capacity has also contributed to increased yields in this study. The area of the leaf veins did not significantly correlate with yield, showing that the high-yield genotypes did not have larger veins, but they may have had a conservative water use strategy, with tight regulation of water loss from the leaves. This study demonstrates that breeding for higher yields in this region has changed wheat's anatomical traits, reducing the roots' cortical tissue and increasing the roots' xylem investment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengzhen Du
- School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China;
| | - Yong-He Zhu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
| | - Jacob Weiner
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark;
| | - Zhengli Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (Z.S.); (H.L.)
| | - Huiquan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (Z.S.); (H.L.)
| | - Tao Feng
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials of Gansu Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Feng-Min Li
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (Z.S.); (H.L.)
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Zhang Y, Cao J, Lu M, Kardol P, Wang J, Fan G, Kong D. The origin of bi-dimensionality in plant root traits. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:78-88. [PMID: 37777374 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Plant roots show extraordinary diversity in form and function in heterogeneous environments. Mounting evidence has shown global bi-dimensionality in root traits, the root economics spectrum (RES), and an orthogonal dimension describing mycorrhizal collaboration; however, the origin of the bi-dimensionality remains unresolved. Here, we propose that bi-dimensionality arises from the cylindrical geometry of roots, allometry between root cortex and stele, and independence between root cell wall thickness and cell number. Root geometry and mycorrhizal collaboration may both underlie the bi-dimensionality. Further, we emphasize why plant roots should be cylindrical rather than flat. Finally, we highlight the need to integrate organ-, cellular-, and molecular-level processes driving the bi-dimensionality in plant roots to fully understand plant diversity and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Jingjing Cao
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | | | - Paul Kardol
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, 75007, Sweden; Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, 90183, Sweden
| | - Junjian Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Guoqiang Fan
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Deliang Kong
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
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