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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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Zhang Y, Cao JJ, Yang QP, Wu MZ, Zhao Y, Kong DL. The worldwide allometric relationship in anatomical structures for plant roots. PLANT DIVERSITY 2023; 45:621-629. [PMID: 38197011 PMCID: PMC10772186 DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2023.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
The cortex (i.e., absorptive tissue) and stele (transportive vascular tissue) are fundamental to the function of plant roots. Unraveling how these anatomical structures are assembled in absorptive roots is essential for our understanding of plant ecology, physiology, and plant responses to global environmental changes. In this review, we first compile a large data set on anatomical traits in absorptive roots, including cortex thickness and stele radius, across 698 observations and 512 species. Using this data set, we reveal a common root allometry in absorptive root structures, i.e., cortex thickness increases much faster than stele radius with increasing root diameter (hereafter, root allometry). Root allometry is further validated within and across plant growth forms (woody, grass, and liana species), mycorrhiza types (arbuscular mycorrhiza, ectomycorrhiza, and orchid mycorrhizas), phylogenetic gradients (from ferns to Orchidaceae), and environmental change scenarios (e.g., elevation of atmospheric CO2 concentration and nitrogen fertilization). These findings indicate that root allometry is common in plants. Importantly, root allometry varies greatly across species. We then summarize recent research on the mechanisms of root allometry and potential issues regarding these mechanisms. We further discuss ecological and evolutionary implications of root allometry. Finally, we propose several important research directions that should be pursued regarding root allometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Jing-Jing Cao
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Qing-Pei Yang
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Ming-Zuo Wu
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - De-Liang Kong
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
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Chen Z, Li H, Zhang WH, Wang B. The roles of stomatal morphologies in transpiration and nutrient transportation between grasses and forbs in a temperate steppe. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2023; 132:229-239. [PMID: 37470240 PMCID: PMC10583208 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Grasses and forbs are dominant functional groups in temperate grasslands and display substantial differences in many biological traits, especially in root and stomatal morphologies, which are closely related to the use of water and nutrients. However, few studies have investigated the differences in nutrient accumulation and stomatal morphology-mediated transportation of water and nutrients from roots to shoots comparatively between the two functional groups. METHODS Here, we explored the patterns of accumulation of multiple nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) in leaves and roots, transpiration-related processes and interactions between nutrients and transpiration at functional group levels by experiments in a temperate steppe and collection of data from the literature. KEY RESULTS The concentrations of all the examined nutrients were obviously higher in both leaves and roots of forbs than those in grasses, especially for leaf Ca and Mg concentrations. Grasses with dumbbell-shaped stomata displayed significantly lower transpiration and stomatal conductance than forbs with kidney-shaped stomata. In contrast, grasses showed much higher water-use efficiency (WUE) than forbs. The contrasting patterns of nutrient accumulation, transpiration and WUE between grasses and forbs were less sensitive to varied environments. Leaf N, P and S concentrations were not affected by transpiration. In contrast, leaf Mg concentrations were positively correlated with transpiration in forb species. Furthermore, linear regression and principal component analysis showed that leaf Ca and Mg concentrations were positively correlated with transpiration between the two functional groups. CONCLUSIONS Our results revealed contrasting differences in acquisition of multiple nutrients and transpiration between grasses and forbs, and that stomatal morphologies are an important driver for the distinct WUE and translocation of Ca and Mg from roots to leaves between the two functional groups in temperate steppes. These findings will contribute to our understanding of the important roles of functional traits in driving water and nutrient cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hongbo Li
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Wen-hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Baolan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
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Zhang W, Gong J, Zhang Z, Song L, Lambers H, Zhang S, Dong J, Dong X, Hu Y. Soil phosphorus availability alters the correlations between root phosphorus-uptake rates and net photosynthesis of dominant C 3 and C 4 species in a typical temperate grassland of Northern China. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:157-172. [PMID: 37547950 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19167] [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: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) fertilization can alleviate a soil P deficiency in grassland ecosystems. Understanding plant functional traits that enhance P uptake can improve grassland management. We measured impacts of P addition on soil chemical and microbial properties, net photosynthetic rate (Pn ) and nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations ([NSC]), and root P-uptake rate (PUR), morphology, anatomy, and exudation of two dominant grass species: Leymus chinensis (C3 ) and Cleistogenes squarrosa (C4 ). For L. chinensis, PUR and Pn showed a nonlinear correlation. Growing more adventitious roots compensated for the decrease in P transport per unit root length, so that it maintained a high PUR. For C. squarrosa, PUR and Pn presented a linear correlation. Increased Pn was associated with modifications in root morphology, which further enhanced its PUR and a greater surplus of photosynthate and significantly stimulated root exudation (proxied by leaf [Mn]), which had a greater impact on rhizosheath micro-environment and microbial PLFAs. Our results present correlations between the PUR and the Pn of L. chinensis and C. squarrosa and reveal that NSC appeared to drive the modifications of root morphology and exudation; they provide more objective basis for more efficient P-input in grasslands to address the urgent problem of P deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiyuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, MOE Engineering Research Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Jirui Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, MOE Engineering Research Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Zihe Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, MOE Engineering Research Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Liangyuan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, MOE Engineering Research Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Hans Lambers
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Siqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, MOE Engineering Research Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Jiaojiao Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, MOE Engineering Research Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xuede Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, MOE Engineering Research Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Yuxia Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, MOE Engineering Research Center of Desertification and Blown-Sand Control, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
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Li J, Le X, Chen X, Niklas KJ, Li X, Wu P, Zhou Y, Zhong Q, Hu D, Cheng D. The allocation of anatomical traits determines the trade-off between fine root resource acquisition-transport function. Oecologia 2023; 202:845-854. [PMID: 37624444 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05443-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Cortex radius (CR) and stele radius (SR) are important functional traits associated with the nutrient acquisition and transport functions of fine roots, respectively. However, for developmental and anatomical reasons, the resource acquisition-transport relationship of fine roots is expected to be different for different root orders. To address this issue, critical fine root anatomical traits were examined for the first three orders of roots of 59 subtropical woody plants. Designating the most distal fine roots as order one, SR scaled isometrically with respect to root radius (RR) (i.e., SR ∝ RR1.0) in the three root orders, whereas CR scaled allometrically with respect to RR (i.e., CR ∝ RR>1.0) with the numerical values of scaling exponents increasing significantly with increasing root orders thereby indicating a disproportional increase in CR with increasing root orders. There were also differences between normalized root tissue (CR/RR and SR/RR) and RR in different root orders. A negative isometric relationship (i.e., SR/RR ∝ RR-1.0) existed between SR/RR and RR in three order roots, whereas the allometric exponent between CR/RR and RR increased with root order (from 0.88 to 1.55). Collectively, the data indicate that root anatomical and functional traits change as a function of RR and that these changes need to be considered when modeling fine root resource acquisition-transport functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlong Li
- Institute of Geography, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Xingui Le
- Yangjifeng National Nature Reserve Administration of Jiangxi Province, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xiaoping Chen
- Institute of Geography, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Ecophysiology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Karl J Niklas
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Xueqin Li
- Institute of Geography, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Panpan Wu
- Institute of Geography, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yongjiao Zhou
- Institute of Geography, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Quanlin Zhong
- Institute of Geography, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Dandan Hu
- Institute of Geography, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Dongliang Cheng
- Institute of Geography, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Ecophysiology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China.
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Mao Z, Roumet C, Rossi LMW, Merino‐Martín L, Nespoulous J, Taugourdeau O, Boukcim H, Fourtier S, Del Rey‐Granado M, Ramel M, Ji K, Zuo J, Fromin N, Stokes A, Fort F. Intra‐ and inter‐specific variation in root mechanical traits for twelve herbaceous plants and their link with the root economics space. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhun Mao
- Univ. Montpellier, AMAP, INRAE, CIRAD, CNRS, IRD Montpellier France
| | | | - Lorenzo M. W. Rossi
- Univ. Montpellier, AMAP, INRAE, CIRAD, CNRS, IRD Montpellier France
- Univ. of Cassino Cassino (Fr) Italy
| | - Luis Merino‐Martín
- CEFE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France
- Depto de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, ESCET, Univ. Rey Juan Carlos Madrid Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Merlin Ramel
- Univ. Montpellier, AMAP, INRAE, CIRAD, CNRS, IRD Montpellier France
| | - Kang Ji
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
- Univ. of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Juan Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
- Centre of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
| | | | - Alexia Stokes
- Univ. Montpellier, AMAP, INRAE, CIRAD, CNRS, IRD Montpellier France
| | - Florian Fort
- CEFE, Univ. Montpellier, Inst. Agro, CNRS, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France
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Li T, Ren J, He W, Wang Y, Wen X, Wang X, Ye M, Chen G, Zhao K, Hou G, Li X, Fan C. Anatomical structure interpretation of the effect of soil environment on fine root function. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:993127. [PMID: 36110353 PMCID: PMC9470114 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.993127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Fine root anatomy plays an important role in understanding the relationship between fine root function and soil environment. However, in different soil environments, the variation of fine root anatomical structure in different root sequences is not well studied. We measured the soil conditions and anatomical structure characteristics (root diameter, cortical tissue, vascular tissue and xylem) of fine roots of Cupressus funebris in four experimental sites, and analyzed each level of fine roots separately. We link these data to understand the relationship between fine root anatomy and soil conditions. We found that the anatomical structure of fine roots is closely related to soil environmental factors. The fine roots of lower root order are mainly affected by soil nutrients. Among them, the cortical tissue of first-order fine roots was positively correlated with potassium and phosphorus, but negatively correlated with nitrogen, while second- and third-order fine roots was positively correlated with soil total potassium and negatively correlated with nitrogen and phosphorus. For the fine roots of high root order, the cortical tissue disappeared, and the secondary vascular tissue was mainly affected by soil moisture. In addition, we also found that the division of fine root functional groups is not fixed. On the one hand, the function of third-order fine roots will slip. For example, the decrease of soil moisture will promote the transformation of third-order fine roots into transport roots, and the reduction of nitrogen will promote the transformation of third-order fine roots into absorption roots to fix nitrogen. This transformation strategy can effectively prevent the restriction of soil nutrients on plant growth. On the other hand, with the change of habitat, the first- and second-order fine roots are still the absorbing root, and the fourth- and fifth-order fine roots are still the transport root, but the efficiency of absorption and transport will be affected. In conclusion, our findings emphasize the fine roots in different soil environment to show high levels of plasticity, shows that fine root anatomical structure changes may make plants, and reveals that the fine is just order of reaction and its mechanism in the soil environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Li
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jingjing Ren
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenchun He
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu Wang
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaochen Wen
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mengting Ye
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Gang Chen
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River and Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Kuangji Zhao
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River and Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Guirong Hou
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River and Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Xianwei Li
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River and Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Chuan Fan
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River and Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
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