Do root secondary xylem functional traits differ between growth forms in Fabaceae species in a seasonally dry Neotropical environment?

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Whole-plant performance in water-stressed and disturbance-prone environments depends on a suitable supply of water from the roots to the leaves, storage of reserves during periods of shortage, and a morphological arrangement that guarantees the maintenance of the plants anchored to the soil. All these functions are performed by the secondary xylem of roots. Here, we investigate whether different growth forms of Fabaceae species from the seasonally dry Neotropical environment have distinct strategies for water transport, mechanical support and non-structural carbon and water storage in the root secondary xylem.

Methods

We evaluated cross-sections of root secondary xylem from species of trees, shrubs and subshrubs. We applied linear models to verify the var

SUBMITTER: da Silva JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10667001 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature