Structure, attachment properties, and ecological importance of the attachment system of English ivy (Hedera helix).

ABSTRACT: Root climbers such as English ivy (Hedera helix) rely on specialized adventitious roots for attachment, enabling the plants to climb on a wide range of natural and artificial substrates. Despite their importance for the climbing habit, the biomechanical properties of these specialized adventitious roots compared with standard roots and their performance in the attachment to different host species or inert substrates have not been studied. Here organs and tissues involved in the attachment are characterized and their significance in regard to a broader functional and ecological aspect is discussed. Depending on the substrate, the root clusters show different types of failure modes at various frequencies, demonstrating the close interaction between the climber and its substrates. With a Youn

SUBMITTER: Melzer B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3245459 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature