Root architecture governs plasticity in response to drought.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Root characteristics are important for predicting plant and ecosystem responses to resource scarcity. Simple, categorical traits for roots could be broadly applied to ecosystem function and restoration experiments, but they need to be evaluated for their role and behaviour under various stresses, including water limitation. We hypothesised that more complex root architectures allow more plastic responses to limited water than do tap roots.

Methods

We carried out two greenhouse experiments: one with a range of grassland plant species; the other with only species of Asteraceae to test the responsiveness of root architectural classes to location of limited water in the soil column. Using trait screening techniques and X-ray tomography, we measured the plasticity of the roo

SUBMITTER: Fry EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6406839 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature