scholarly journals Effects of Summer Drought on the Fine Root System of Five Broadleaf Tree Species along a Precipitation Gradient

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 289
Author(s):  
Sebastian Fuchs ◽  
Dietrich Hertel ◽  
Bernhard Schuldt ◽  
Christoph Leuschner
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Precipitation Gradient ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Water Deficits ◽  
Drought Sensitivity ◽  
Broadleaf Tree

While much research has addressed the aboveground response of trees to climate warming and related water shortage, not much is known about the drought sensitivity of the fine root system, in particular of mature trees. This study investigates the response of topsoil (0–10 cm) fine root biomass (FRB), necromass (FRN), and fine root morphology of five temperate broadleaf tree species (Acer platanoides L., Carpinus betulus L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Tilia cordata Mill.) to a reduction in water availability, combining a precipitation gradient study (nine study sites; mean annual precipitation (MAP): 920–530 mm year−1) with the comparison of a moist period (average spring conditions) and an exceptionally dry period in the summer of the subsequent year. The extent of the root necromass/biomass (N/B) ratio increase was used as a measure of the species’ belowground sensitivity to water deficits. We hypothesized that the N/B ratio increases with long-term (precipitation gradient) and short-term reductions (moist vs. dry period) of water availability, while FRB changes only a little. In four of the five species (exception: A. platanoides), FRB did not change with a reduction in MAP, whereas FRN and N/B ratio increased toward the dry sites under ample water supply (exception: Q. petraea). Q. petraea was also the only species not to reduce root tip frequency after summer drought. Different slopes of the N/B ratio-MAP relation similarly point at a lower belowground drought sensitivity of Q. petraea than of the other species. After summer drought, all species lost the MAP dependence of the N/B ratio. Thus, fine root mortality increased more at the moister than the drier sites, suggesting a generally lower belowground drought sensitivity of the drier stands. We conclude that the five species differ in their belowground drought response. Q. petraea follows the most conservative soil exploration strategy with a generally smaller FRB and more drought-tolerant fine roots, as it maintains relatively constant FRB, FRN, and morphology across spatial and temporal dimensions of soil water deficits.

Microtopographic refugia against drought in temperate forests: Lower water availability but more extensive fine root system in mounds than in pits

2020 ◽  
Vol 476 ◽  
pp. 118439
Author(s):  
Florence Tauc ◽  
Daniel Houle ◽  
Angélique Dupuch ◽  
Frédérik Doyon ◽  
Audrey Maheu
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Temperate Forests

scholarly journals Relationship between Very Fine Root Distribution and Soil Water Content in Pre- and Post-Harvest Areas of Two Coniferous Tree Species

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1227
Author(s):  
Moein Farahnak ◽  
Keiji Mitsuyasu ◽  
Takuo Hishi ◽  
Ayumi Katayama ◽  
Masaaki Chiwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Root System ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Fine Roots ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Tree Cutting ◽  
Coniferous Tree Species

Tree root system development alters forest soil properties, and differences in root diameter frequency and root length per soil volume reflect differences in root system function. In this study, the relationship between vertical distribution of very fine root and soil water content was investigated in intact tree and cut tree areas. The vertical distribution of root density with different diameter classes (very fine <0.5 mm and fine 0.5–2.0 mm) and soil water content were examined along a slope with two coniferous tree species, Cryptomeria japonica (L.f.) D. Don and Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold et Zucc.) Endl. The root biomass and length density of very fine roots at soil depth of 0–5 cm were higher in the Ch. obtusa intact tree plot than in the Cr. japonica intact plot. Tree cutting caused a reduction in the biomass and length of very fine roots at 0–5 cm soil depth, and an increment in soil water content at 5–30 cm soil depth of the Ch. obtusa cut tree plot one year after cutting. However, very fine root density of the Cr. japonica intact tree plot was quite low and the soil water content in post-harvest areas did not change. The increase in soil water content at 5–30 cm soil depth of the Ch. obtusa cut tree plot could be caused by the decrease in very fine roots at 0–5 cm soil depth. These results suggest that the distribution of soil water content was changed after tree cutting of Ch. obtusa by the channels generated by the decay of very fine roots. It was also shown that differences in root system characteristics among different tree species affect soil water properties after cutting.

scholarly journals Root System Distribution Influences Substrate Moisture Measurements in Containerized Ornamental Tree Species

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 754-759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taryn L. Bauerle ◽  
William L. Bauerle ◽  
Marc Goebel ◽  
David M. Barnard
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Root Distribution ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Specific Root Length ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
Moisture Sensor ◽  
Substrate Moisture ◽  
Moisture Variability

Substrate moisture sensors offer an affordable monitoring system for containerized tree production. However, root system distribution can vary greatly among species within ornamental container production systems, resulting in variation within substrate readings among sensors within a container. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of substrate moisture sensor readings in six ornamental trees to their root distribution patterns within a container. Following root anatomical analysis, tree root systems were dissected by root order as a means to separate fine (uptake) roots and coarse (transport) roots. Substrate moisture variability was measured through the deployment of 12 substrate moisture sensors per container. Of the tree species studied, we found the following two patterns of root distribution: a shallow, “conical-shaped,” root system, with the broadest portion of the root system in the shallow soil layer, and a more evenly distributed “cylindrical-shaped” root system. Root system distribution type influenced substrate moisture reading variability. Conical root systems had lower substrate moisture variability and high fine root variability, whereas the opposite was true for cylindrical root systems—most likely due to the larger, coarse woody mass of roots. We were unable to find any correlations between fine root morphological features including root diameter, length, or surface area and substrate moisture variability. However, higher specific root length was associated with higher substrate moisture variability. Classifying a tree’s root system by its growth and distribution within a container can account for variation in substrate moisture readings and help inform future decisions on sensor placement within containerized systems.

scholarly journals Reverse conductivity for water transport and related anatomy in fine roots of six temperate tree species – a potential limitation for hydraulic redistribution

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Hesse ◽  
Thorsten Grams ◽  
Benjamin Hafner
Keyword(s):  
Water Potential ◽  
Root System ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Fine Roots ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Reverse Flow ◽  
Root Anatomy ◽  
Hydraulic Redistribution ◽  
Acer Pseudoplatanus ◽  
Secondary Roots

Hydraulic redistribution (HR), the passive reallocation of water along plant structures following a water potential gradient, is an important mechanism for plant survival under drought. For example, trees with deeper roots reallocate water from deeper moist to shallower, drier soil layers sustaining their upper fine root system. The relevance of HR for temperate forest ecosystems is hardly investigated. Both environmental and tree internal factors limiting the capacity for HR, such as low water potential gradients or root anatomy, respectively, are not well understood. Here we investigate fine root anatomy and related capacity for reverse flow of water of six temperate tree species, i.e. Acer pseudoplatanus, Castanea sativa, Fagus sylvatica, Picea abies, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Quercus robur both in forward and reverse flow direction. Additionally, anatomy of primary and secondary roots was analyzed, to test the hypotheses that root anatomy is similar in primary and secondary roots (H1) and conductivity for forward and reverse flow of water in fine roots is identical (H2). In contrast to the two gymnosperm species, most anatomical parameters, e.g. hydraulic conduit diameter and conduit density, were distinctly different between primary and secondary roots in the angiosperms. Therefore, H1 was rejected for angiosperm trees. The reverse flow of water in fine roots was reduced by approx. 40 % compared to the forward flow in angiosperms, while there was no difference in the gymnosperms. Thus, H2 was rejected for angiosperms. This reduction may be caused by vessel structure (e.g. tapering or secondary thickening elements), or perforation plate and pit architecture (e.g. width of aperture opening). Because of the reduced conductivity of reverse water flow, the ability of angiosperm trees to redistribute water along their root system might be lower than expected.

scholarly journals Hydraulic variability of three temperate broadleaf tree species along a water availability gradient in Central Europe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Fuchs ◽  
Christoph Leuschner ◽  
Roman Mathias Link ◽  
Bernhard Schuldt
Keyword(s):  
Central Europe ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Broadleaf Tree

scholarly journals Effect of earthworms on mycorrhization, root morphology and biomass of silver fir seedlings inoculated with black summer truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.)

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Unuk Nahberger ◽  
Gian Maria Niccolò Benucci ◽  
Hojka Kraigher ◽  
Tine Grebenc
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Fine Root Biomass ◽  
Root Tip ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Tuber Aestivum ◽  
Root Tips ◽  
Root Parameters

AbstractSpecies of the genus Tuber have gained a lot of attention in recent decades due to their aromatic hypogenous fruitbodies, which can bring high prices on the market. The tendency in truffle production is to infect oak, hazel, beech, etc. in greenhouse conditions. We aimed to show whether silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) can be an appropriate host partner for commercial mycorrhization with truffles, and how earthworms in the inoculation substrate would affect the mycorrhization dynamics. Silver fir seedlings inoculated with Tuber. aestivum were analyzed for root system parameters and mycorrhization, how earthworms affect the bare root system, and if mycorrhization parameters change when earthworms are added to the inoculation substrate. Seedlings were analyzed 6 and 12 months after spore inoculation. Mycorrhization with or without earthworms revealed contrasting effects on fine root biomass and morphology of silver fir seedlings. Only a few of the assessed fine root parameters showed statistically significant response, namely higher fine root biomass and fine root tip density in inoculated seedlings without earthworms 6 months after inoculation, lower fine root tip density when earthworms were added, the specific root tip density increased in inoculated seedlings without earthworms 12 months after inoculation, and general negative effect of earthworm on branching density. Silver fir was confirmed as a suitable host partner for commercial mycorrhization with truffles, with 6% and 35% mycorrhization 6 months after inoculation and between 36% and 55% mycorrhization 12 months after inoculation. The effect of earthworms on mycorrhization of silver fir with Tuber aestivum was positive only after 6 months of mycorrhization, while this effect disappeared and turned insignificantly negative after 12 months due to the secondary effect of grazing on ectomycorrhizal root tips.

Fine root architecture, morphology, and biomass of different branch orders of two Chinese temperate tree species

2006 ◽  
Vol 288 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 155-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengquan Wang ◽  
Dali Guo ◽  
Xiangrong Wang ◽  
Jiacun Gu ◽  
Li Mei
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Root Architecture ◽  
Fine Root
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