Mechanical traits of fine roots as a function of topology and anatomy

Z Mao; Yan Wang; M Luke McCormack; Nick Rowe; Xiaobao Deng; Xiaodong Yang; Shangwen Xia; Jérôme Nespoulous; Roy C Sidle; Dali Guo; Alexia Stokes

doi:10.1093/aob/mcy076

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Mechanical traits of fine roots as a function of topology and anatomy

Journal article

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Mechanical traits of fine roots as a function of topology and anatomy

Z Mao, Yan Wang, M Luke McCormack, Nick Rowe, Xiaobao Deng, Xiaodong Yang, Shangwen Xia, Jérôme Nespoulous, Roy C Sidle, Dali Guo, …

Annals of Botany, Vol.122(7), pp.1103-1116

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcy076

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Abstract

biomechanics

tensile strength

modulus of elasticity

tensile strain

root diameter

fine roots

root topology

root anatomy

Background and AimsRoot mechanical traits, including tensile strength (Tr), tensile strain (Îµr) and modulus of elasticity (Er), are key functional traits that help characterize plant anchorage and the physical contribution of vegetation to landslides and erosion. The variability in these traits is high among tree fine roots and is poorly understood. Here, we explore the variation in root mechanical traits as well as their underlying links with morphological (diameter), architectural (topological order) and anatomical (stele and cortex sizes) traits.MethodsWe investigated the four tropical tree species Pometia tomentosa, Barringtonia fusicarpa, Baccaurea ramiflora and Pittosporopsis kerrii in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China. For each species, we excavated intact, fresh, fine roots and measured mechanical and anatomical traits for each branching order. Key Results Mechanical traits varied enormously among the four species within a narrow range of diameters (<2 mm): <0.1-65 MPa for Tr, 4-1135 MPa for Er and 0.4-37 % for Îµr. Across species, Tr and Er were strongly correlated with stele area ratio, which was also better correlated with topological order than with root diameter, especially at interspecific levels. Conclusions Root topological order plays an important role in explaining variability in fine-root mechanical traits due to its reflection of root tissue development. Accounting for topological order when measuring fine-root traits therefore leads to greater empirical understanding of plant functions (e.g. anchorage) within and across species.

Details

Title: Mechanical traits of fine roots as a function of topology and anatomy
Authors: Z Mao (Corresponding Author) - University of Montpellier, France
Yan Wang (Author) - Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
M Luke McCormack (Author) - Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Nick Rowe (Author) - University of Montpellier, France
Xiaobao Deng (Author) - Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Xiaodong Yang (Author) - Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Shangwen Xia (Author) - Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Jérôme Nespoulous (Author) - University of Montpellier, France
Roy C Sidle (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Dali Guo (Author) - Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Alexia Stokes (Author) - University of Montpellier, France
Publication details: Annals of Botany, Vol.122(7), pp.1103-1116
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date published: 2018
DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcy076
ISSN: 0305-7364
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450717802621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Plant Sciences

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