Unravelling roots of lianas: a case study in Sapindaceae.

ABSTRACT: Background and Aims Roots are key in the evolution of plants, being in charge of critical functions, such as water and nutrient uptake and anchorage of the plant body. Stems of lianescent Sapindaceae conform to the anatomical patterns typical of climbing plants, having cambial variants in their stems and vessel dimorphism in their wood. The roots of these lianas, however, are largely unexplored, so we do not know whether the plant habit has as strong an impact on their anatomy as on the anatomy of their stems. Our aim was, therefore, to thoroughly explore the anatomy of liana roots, underground organs under selective pressure completely different from that experienced by the stems. Methods We studied mature roots of 14 species belonging to five of the six genera currently recognized in the

SUBMITTER: Bastos CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5055626 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature