Neighbour presence, not identity, influences root and shoot allocation in pea.

ABSTRACT: Competition is a key feature that structures the composition of plant communities. A growing body of evidence is showing that the presence of neighbours, especially belowground neighbours, induces varied morphological responses in plants. However, in many species, it is not known whether neighbour identity also influences plant morphological responses such as biomass allocation patterns. To assess plant response to above- and belowground neighbour presence and identity, we conducted a greenhouse experiment consisting of conspecific (pea; Pisum sativum L.) and heterospecific (oat; Avena sativa L.) neighbours growing with a P. sativum focal plant. Four interaction regimes were constructed including shoot, root, or 'full' interaction (root & shoot) treatments, as well as a control with no int

SUBMITTER: Jacob CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5349671 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature