Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2023, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (6): 856-866.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2022.0183

Special Issue: 全球变化与生态系统

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of warming on growth, morphology and physiological metabolism characteristics of fine roots in a mature Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation in different seasons

WU Fan1,2, WU Chen1,2, ZHANG Yu-Hui1,2, YU Heng1,2, WEI Zhi-Hua1,2, ZHENG Wei1,2, LIU Xiao-Fei1,2, CHEN Shi-Dong1,2, YANG Zhi-Jie1,2, XIONG De-Cheng1,2,*()   

  1. 1Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Eco-physiology, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
    2Fujian Sanming Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Sanming, Fujian 365000, China
  • Received:2022-05-07 Accepted:2022-09-28 Online:2023-06-20 Published:2022-09-28
  • Contact: * (xdc104@163.com)
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(32071743);National Natural Science Foundation of China(31930071);National Key Basic Research Plan of China(2014CB954003)

Abstract:

Aims The objective of this study was to reveal the effects of climate warming on fine root dynamics of a plantation in subtropical China.

Methods An in situ soil warming experiment in a mature Cunninghamia lanceolataplantation was conducted at the Fujian Sanming Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station. The effects of soil warming on the growth, morphology and physiological metabolism characteristics of fine roots in this mature plantation in different seasons were investigated by using the in-growth core method.

Important findings In the rainy season, warming significantly increased the growth of 0-1 mm fine roots and total fine roots (0-2 mm) by 109.9 % and 78.2% respectively, and also increased the specific root length (SRL) and soluble sugar content of 0-1 mm fine roots by 28.8% and 41.5% respectively, compared with the control. However, warming significantly decreased the root specific respiration rate (SRR) and starch content of total fine roots by 64.1% and 15.9% respectively. In the dry season, there were no significant changes in the growth and morphological indices of 0-1 mm and 1-2 mm fine roots after warming, while the SRR of 0-1 mm fine roots and the contents of starch and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) of 1-2 mm fine roots were significantly reduced by 60.7%, 43.9% and 14.2% respectively. Therefore, under future climate warming, the mature C. lanceolata plantation may have strong adaptability in the subtropical region. During the rainy season, the mature C. lanceolata plantation maintains normal physiological activities by increasing fine root SRL to absorb more resources and promoting the transformation of starch to soluble sugar, so as to promote the growth of fine roots in response to warming. In the dry season, the mature C. lanceolata plantation responds to the warming by reducing the SRR of fine roots to reduce internal nutrient depletion and increasing the NSC utilization to improve water transport efficiency to maintain normal fine root growth; adjusting the SRL, specific root surface area and root tissue density of fine roots may not be the main strategies for the mature C. lanceolata plantation in response to warming.

Key words: soil warming, Cunninghamia lanceolata, plantation, fine root growth, morphology, physiological metabolism