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Freschet GT, Pagès L, Iversen CM, Comas LH, Rewald B, Roumet C, Klimešová J, Zadworny M, Poorter H, Postma JA, Adams TS, Bagniewska‐Zadworna A, Bengough AG, Blancaflor EB, Brunner I, Cornelissen JHC, Garnier E, Gessler A, Hobbie SE, Meier IC, Mommer L, Picon‐Cochard C, Rose L, Ryser P, Scherer‐Lorenzen M, Soudzilovskaia NA, Stokes A, Sun T, Valverde‐Barrantes OJ, Weemstra M, Weigelt A, Wurzburger N, York LM, Batterman SA, Gomes de Moraes M, Janeček Š, Lambers H, Salmon V, Tharayil N, McCormack ML. A starting guide to root ecology: strengthening ecological concepts and standardising root classification, sampling, processing and trait measurements. New Phytol 2021; 232:973-1122. [PMID: 34608637 PMCID: PMC8518129 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In the context of a recent massive increase in research on plant root functions and their impact on the environment, root ecologists currently face many important challenges to keep on generating cutting-edge, meaningful and integrated knowledge. Consideration of the below-ground components in plant and ecosystem studies has been consistently called for in recent decades, but methodology is disparate and sometimes inappropriate. This handbook, based on the collective effort of a large team of experts, will improve trait comparisons across studies and integration of information across databases by providing standardised methods and controlled vocabularies. It is meant to be used not only as starting point by students and scientists who desire working on below-ground ecosystems, but also by experts for consolidating and broadening their views on multiple aspects of root ecology. Beyond the classical compilation of measurement protocols, we have synthesised recommendations from the literature to provide key background knowledge useful for: (1) defining below-ground plant entities and giving keys for their meaningful dissection, classification and naming beyond the classical fine-root vs coarse-root approach; (2) considering the specificity of root research to produce sound laboratory and field data; (3) describing typical, but overlooked steps for studying roots (e.g. root handling, cleaning and storage); and (4) gathering metadata necessary for the interpretation of results and their reuse. Most importantly, all root traits have been introduced with some degree of ecological context that will be a foundation for understanding their ecological meaning, their typical use and uncertainties, and some methodological and conceptual perspectives for future research. Considering all of this, we urge readers not to solely extract protocol recommendations for trait measurements from this work, but to take a moment to read and reflect on the extensive information contained in this broader guide to root ecology, including sections I-VII and the many introductions to each section and root trait description. Finally, it is critical to understand that a major aim of this guide is to help break down barriers between the many subdisciplines of root ecology and ecophysiology, broaden researchers' views on the multiple aspects of root study and create favourable conditions for the inception of comprehensive experiments on the role of roots in plant and ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire T. Freschet
- CEFEUniv Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD1919 route de MendeMontpellier34293France
- Station d’Ecologie Théorique et ExpérimentaleCNRS2 route du CNRS09200MoulisFrance
| | - Loïc Pagès
- UR 1115 PSHCentre PACA, site AgroparcINRAE84914Avignon cedex 9France
| | - Colleen M. Iversen
- Environmental Sciences Division and Climate Change Science InstituteOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTN37831USA
| | - Louise H. Comas
- USDA‐ARS Water Management Research Unit2150 Centre Avenue, Bldg D, Suite 320Fort CollinsCO80526USA
| | - Boris Rewald
- Department of Forest and Soil SciencesUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesVienna1190Austria
| | - Catherine Roumet
- CEFEUniv Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD1919 route de MendeMontpellier34293France
| | - Jitka Klimešová
- Department of Functional EcologyInstitute of Botany CASDukelska 13537901TrebonCzech Republic
| | - Marcin Zadworny
- Institute of DendrologyPolish Academy of SciencesParkowa 562‐035KórnikPoland
| | - Hendrik Poorter
- Plant Sciences (IBG‐2)Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbHD‐52425JülichGermany
- Department of Biological SciencesMacquarie UniversityNorth RydeNSW2109Australia
| | | | - Thomas S. Adams
- Department of Plant SciencesThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPA16802USA
| | - Agnieszka Bagniewska‐Zadworna
- Department of General BotanyInstitute of Experimental BiologyFaculty of BiologyAdam Mickiewicz UniversityUniwersytetu Poznańskiego 661-614PoznańPoland
| | - A. Glyn Bengough
- The James Hutton InstituteInvergowrie, Dundee,DD2 5DAUK
- School of Science and EngineeringUniversity of DundeeDundee,DD1 4HNUK
| | | | - Ivano Brunner
- Forest Soils and BiogeochemistrySwiss Federal Research Institute WSLZürcherstr. 1118903BirmensdorfSwitzerland
| | - Johannes H. C. Cornelissen
- Department of Ecological ScienceFaculty of ScienceVrije Universiteit AmsterdamDe Boelelaan 1085Amsterdam1081 HVthe Netherlands
| | - Eric Garnier
- CEFEUniv Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD1919 route de MendeMontpellier34293France
| | - Arthur Gessler
- Forest DynamicsSwiss Federal Research Institute WSLZürcherstr. 1118903BirmensdorfSwitzerland
- Institute of Terrestrial EcosystemsETH Zurich8092ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Sarah E. Hobbie
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and BehaviorUniversity of MinnesotaSt PaulMN55108USA
| | - Ina C. Meier
- Functional Forest EcologyUniversity of HamburgHaidkrugsweg 122885BarsbütelGermany
| | - Liesje Mommer
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation GroupDepartment of Environmental SciencesWageningen University and ResearchPO Box 476700 AAWageningenthe Netherlands
| | | | - Laura Rose
- Station d’Ecologie Théorique et ExpérimentaleCNRS2 route du CNRS09200MoulisFrance
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F)Senckenberganlage 2560325Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Peter Ryser
- Laurentian University935 Ramsey Lake RoadSudburyONP3E 2C6Canada
| | | | - Nadejda A. Soudzilovskaia
- Environmental Biology DepartmentInstitute of Environmental SciencesCMLLeiden UniversityLeiden2300 RAthe Netherlands
| | - Alexia Stokes
- INRAEAMAPCIRAD, IRDCNRSUniversity of MontpellierMontpellier34000France
| | - Tao Sun
- Institute of Applied EcologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenyang110016China
| | - Oscar J. Valverde‐Barrantes
- International Center for Tropical BotanyDepartment of Biological SciencesFlorida International UniversityMiamiFL33199USA
| | - Monique Weemstra
- CEFEUniv Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD1919 route de MendeMontpellier34293France
| | - Alexandra Weigelt
- Systematic Botany and Functional BiodiversityInstitute of BiologyLeipzig UniversityJohannisallee 21-23Leipzig04103Germany
| | - Nina Wurzburger
- Odum School of EcologyUniversity of Georgia140 E. Green StreetAthensGA30602USA
| | - Larry M. York
- Biosciences Division and Center for Bioenergy InnovationOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTN37831USA
| | - Sarah A. Batterman
- School of Geography and Priestley International Centre for ClimateUniversity of LeedsLeedsLS2 9JTUK
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem StudiesMillbrookNY12545USA
| | - Moemy Gomes de Moraes
- Department of BotanyInstitute of Biological SciencesFederal University of Goiás1974690-900Goiânia, GoiásBrazil
| | - Štěpán Janeček
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Western Australia35 Stirling HighwayCrawley (Perth)WA 6009Australia
| | - Hans Lambers
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Western AustraliaCrawley (Perth)WAAustralia
| | - Verity Salmon
- Environmental Sciences Division and Climate Change Science InstituteOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTN37831USA
| | - Nishanth Tharayil
- Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesClemson UniversityClemsonSC29634USA
| | - M. Luke McCormack
- Center for Tree ScienceMorton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rt. 53LisleIL60532USA
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Freschet GT, Pagès L, Iversen CM, Comas LH, Rewald B, Roumet C, Klimešová J, Zadworny M, Poorter H, Postma JA, Adams TS, Bagniewska-Zadworna A, Bengough AG, Blancaflor EB, Brunner I, Cornelissen JHC, Garnier E, Gessler A, Hobbie SE, Meier IC, Mommer L, Picon-Cochard C, Rose L, Ryser P, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Soudzilovskaia NA, Stokes A, Sun T, Valverde-Barrantes OJ, Weemstra M, Weigelt A, Wurzburger N, York LM, Batterman SA, Gomes de Moraes M, Janeček Š, Lambers H, Salmon V, Tharayil N, McCormack ML. A starting guide to root ecology: strengthening ecological concepts and standardising root classification, sampling, processing and trait measurements. New Phytol 2021. [PMID: 34608637 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17572.hal-03379708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
In the context of a recent massive increase in research on plant root functions and their impact on the environment, root ecologists currently face many important challenges to keep on generating cutting-edge, meaningful and integrated knowledge. Consideration of the below-ground components in plant and ecosystem studies has been consistently called for in recent decades, but methodology is disparate and sometimes inappropriate. This handbook, based on the collective effort of a large team of experts, will improve trait comparisons across studies and integration of information across databases by providing standardised methods and controlled vocabularies. It is meant to be used not only as starting point by students and scientists who desire working on below-ground ecosystems, but also by experts for consolidating and broadening their views on multiple aspects of root ecology. Beyond the classical compilation of measurement protocols, we have synthesised recommendations from the literature to provide key background knowledge useful for: (1) defining below-ground plant entities and giving keys for their meaningful dissection, classification and naming beyond the classical fine-root vs coarse-root approach; (2) considering the specificity of root research to produce sound laboratory and field data; (3) describing typical, but overlooked steps for studying roots (e.g. root handling, cleaning and storage); and (4) gathering metadata necessary for the interpretation of results and their reuse. Most importantly, all root traits have been introduced with some degree of ecological context that will be a foundation for understanding their ecological meaning, their typical use and uncertainties, and some methodological and conceptual perspectives for future research. Considering all of this, we urge readers not to solely extract protocol recommendations for trait measurements from this work, but to take a moment to read and reflect on the extensive information contained in this broader guide to root ecology, including sections I-VII and the many introductions to each section and root trait description. Finally, it is critical to understand that a major aim of this guide is to help break down barriers between the many subdisciplines of root ecology and ecophysiology, broaden researchers' views on the multiple aspects of root study and create favourable conditions for the inception of comprehensive experiments on the role of roots in plant and ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire T Freschet
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 1919 route de Mende, Montpellier, 34293, France
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, CNRS, 2 route du CNRS, 09200, Moulis, France
| | - Loïc Pagès
- UR 1115 PSH, Centre PACA, site Agroparc, INRAE, 84914, Avignon cedex 9, France
| | - Colleen M Iversen
- Environmental Sciences Division and Climate Change Science Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Louise H Comas
- USDA-ARS Water Management Research Unit, 2150 Centre Avenue, Bldg D, Suite 320, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA
| | - Boris Rewald
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, 1190, Austria
| | - Catherine Roumet
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 1919 route de Mende, Montpellier, 34293, France
| | - Jitka Klimešová
- Department of Functional Ecology, Institute of Botany CAS, Dukelska 135, 37901, Trebon, Czech Republic
| | - Marcin Zadworny
- Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035, Kórnik, Poland
| | - Hendrik Poorter
- Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Johannes A Postma
- Plant Sciences (IBG-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Thomas S Adams
- Department of Plant Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Agnieszka Bagniewska-Zadworna
- Department of General Botany, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - A Glyn Bengough
- The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee,, DD2 5DA, UK
- School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee,, DD1 4HN, UK
| | - Elison B Blancaflor
- Noble Research Institute, LLC, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK, 73401, USA
| | - Ivano Brunner
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstr. 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Johannes H C Cornelissen
- Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, the Netherlands
| | - Eric Garnier
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 1919 route de Mende, Montpellier, 34293, France
| | - Arthur Gessler
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstr. 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sarah E Hobbie
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Ina C Meier
- Functional Forest Ecology, University of Hamburg, Haidkrugsweg 1, 22885, Barsbütel, Germany
| | - Liesje Mommer
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Laura Rose
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, CNRS, 2 route du CNRS, 09200, Moulis, France
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Peter Ryser
- Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada
| | | | - Nadejda A Soudzilovskaia
- Environmental Biology Department, Institute of Environmental Sciences, CML, Leiden University, Leiden, 2300 RA, the Netherlands
| | - Alexia Stokes
- INRAE, AMAP, CIRAD, IRD, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, 34000, France
| | - Tao Sun
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Oscar J Valverde-Barrantes
- International Center for Tropical Botany, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Monique Weemstra
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 1919 route de Mende, Montpellier, 34293, France
| | - Alexandra Weigelt
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 21-23, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Nina Wurzburger
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 140 E. Green Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Larry M York
- Biosciences Division and Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Sarah A Batterman
- School of Geography and Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, 12545, USA
| | - Moemy Gomes de Moraes
- Department of Botany, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, 19, 74690-900, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Štěpán Janeček
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley (Perth), WA 6009, Australia
| | - Hans Lambers
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley (Perth), WA, Australia
| | - Verity Salmon
- Environmental Sciences Division and Climate Change Science Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Nishanth Tharayil
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - M Luke McCormack
- Center for Tree Science, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rt. 53, Lisle, IL, 60532, USA
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Bodner G, Loiskandl W, Hartl W, Erhart E, Sobotik M. Characterization of Cover Crop Rooting Types from Integration of Rhizobox Imaging and Root Atlas Information. Plants (Basel) 2019; 8:E514. [PMID: 31744188 PMCID: PMC6918168 DOI: 10.3390/plants8110514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Plant root systems are essential for sustainable agriculture, conveying resource-efficient genotypes and species with benefits to soil ecosystem functions. Targeted selection of species/genotypes depends on available root system information. Currently there is no standardized approach for comprehensive root system characterization, suggesting the need for data integration across methods and sources. Here, we combine field measured root descriptors from the classical Root Atlas series with traits from controlled-environment root imaging for 10 cover crop species to (i) detect descriptors scaling between distant experimental methods, (ii) provide traits for species classification, and (iii) discuss implications for cover crop ecosystem functions. Results revealed relation of single axes measures from root imaging (convex hull, primary-lateral length ratio) to Root Atlas field descriptors (depth, branching order). Using composite root variables (principal components) for branching, morphology, and assimilate investment traits, cover crops were classified into species with (i) topsoil-allocated large diameter rooting type, (ii) low-branched primary/shoot-born axes-dominated rooting type, and (iii) highly branched dense rooting type, with classification trait-dependent distinction according to depth distribution. Data integration facilitated identification of root classification variables to derive root-related cover crop distinction, indicating their agro-ecological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gernot Bodner
- Institute of Agronomy, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria
- Austrian Society of Root Research, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria; (W.L.); (W.H.); (E.E.); (M.S.)
| | - Willibald Loiskandl
- Austrian Society of Root Research, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria; (W.L.); (W.H.); (E.E.); (M.S.)
- Institute for Soil Physics and Rural Water Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Wilfried Hartl
- Austrian Society of Root Research, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria; (W.L.); (W.H.); (E.E.); (M.S.)
- Bioforschung Austria, Esslinger Hauptstrasse 132-134, A-1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Erhart
- Austrian Society of Root Research, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria; (W.L.); (W.H.); (E.E.); (M.S.)
- Bioforschung Austria, Esslinger Hauptstrasse 132-134, A-1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Monika Sobotik
- Austrian Society of Root Research, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria; (W.L.); (W.H.); (E.E.); (M.S.)
- Pflanzensoziologisches Institut, Pichlern 9, A-4822 Bad Goisern, Austria
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