Ecological adaptation of root architecture to grassland degradation in Potentilla acaulis

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2011.00490

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Our objectives were to 1) examine the ecological adaptability of Potentilla acaulis to grassland degradation from the perspective of root architecture, 2) reveal why it can be a dominant species in extremely degraded grassland and 3) discuss its important roles in vegetation restoration or succession and preventing grassland from desertification.

Methods We collected relatively complete P. acaulis roots by trenching. The numbers of first vertical roots, length of horizontal root tillering and number of plant tillers were recorded in the field. The root analysis system of WinRHIZO was used to determine total root length, root surface area, total root volume, root average diameter, number of furcations, average branching angle, number of root axes, length of root axes, number of root tips, number of first lateral roots, length of first lateral roots, number of secondary lateral roots, length of secondary lateral roots, root diameters along root length, root surface area and root volume. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and principal component analysis.

Important findings In degraded grassland typified by Stipa grandis, the function of P. acaulis became more important in the community and its root range, root depth, the number of first vertical roots, the number of plant tillers and the length of horizontal root tillering increased significantly. The parameters of root surface area, length of secondary lateral roots, total root length and the number of furcations explained the adaptability of P. acaulis to grassland degradation. Roots with a diameter <2 mm had a significant effect on root surface area and total root length of single plants of P. acaulis. The three-dimensional root architecture of a broad-waist-inverted centrum was an advantageous configuration for P. acaulis to adapt for grassland degradation and can explain P. acaulis as a constructive species in extremely degraded grassland.

Key words: broad-waist-inverted centrum, ecological adaptation, grassland degradation, Potentilla acaulis, root architecture, root architecture parameter

ZHOU Yan-Song, WANG Li-Qun. Ecological adaptation of root architecture to grassland degradation in Potentilla acaulis[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2011, 35(5): 490-499.

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Figures/Tables 8

References 43

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退化群落 Degraded community	平均盖度 Average coverage (%)	地上生物量 Aboveground biomass (g·m^-2)	建群种 Constructive species	放牧率 Stocking rate (sheep·hm^-2)
轻度退化 Light degradation (L)	92.6	159.21	大针茅 Stipa grandis	1.33
中度退化 Moderate degradation (M)	93.0	81.00	大针茅 Stipa grandis	4.00
重度退化 Heavy degradation (H)	71.2	79.74	冷蒿 Artemisia frigida	6.67
极度退化 Extreme degradation (E)	67.7	57.02	星毛委陵菜 Potentilla acaulis	8.00

退化群落 Degraded community	平均盖度 Average coverage (%)	地上生物量 Aboveground biomass (g·m^-2)	建群种 Constructive species	放牧率 Stocking rate (sheep·hm^-2)
轻度退化 Light degradation (L)	92.6	159.21	大针茅 Stipa grandis	1.33
中度退化 Moderate degradation (M)	93.0	81.00	大针茅 Stipa grandis	4.00
重度退化 Heavy degradation (H)	71.2	79.74	冷蒿 Artemisia frigida	6.67
极度退化 Extreme degradation (E)	67.7	57.02	星毛委陵菜 Potentilla acaulis	8.00

退化群落 Degraded community	相对优势度 Relative dominance	重要值 Important value	Simpson优势度指数 Simpson dominance index	Simpson多样性指数 Simpson diversity index	Pielou均匀度指数 Pielou evenness index
轻度退化 L	0.039^d	0.102^d	0.180	0.820	0.864
中度退化 M	0.042^c	0.122^c	0.129	0.871	0.913
重度退化 H	0.044^b	0.142^b	0.182	0.818	0.861
极度退化 E	0.123^a	0.444^a	0.146	0.854	0.893

退化群落 Degraded community	相对优势度 Relative dominance	重要值 Important value	Simpson优势度指数 Simpson dominance index	Simpson多样性指数 Simpson diversity index	Pielou均匀度指数 Pielou evenness index
轻度退化 L	0.039^d	0.102^d	0.180	0.820	0.864
中度退化 M	0.042^c	0.122^c	0.129	0.871	0.913
重度退化 H	0.044^b	0.142^b	0.182	0.818	0.861
极度退化 E	0.123^a	0.444^a	0.146	0.854	0.893

退化群落 Degraded community	冠幅(长×宽) Crown width (length × width) (cm²)	根幅(长×宽) Root range (length × width) (cm² )	根深 Root depth (cm· individual^-1)	一级垂向根条数 Number of first vertical root (No.· individual^-1)	分蘖子株数 Number of plant tillers (No.· individual^-1)	水平分蘖根长度 Length of horizontal root tillering (cm·individual^-1)	地下生物量 Underground biomass (g·individual^-1)
轻度退化 L	535.2^c (23.1 × 23.1)	1392.4^c (37.3 × 37.3)	48.2^c	10^b	3^c	2.0^b	0.6^c
中度退化 M	341.6^bc(18.5 × 18.5)	1561.0^c(39.5 × 39.5)	54.2^b	29^a	6^bc	3.4^a	1.6^b
重度退化 H	641.2^b(25.3 × 25.3)	2696.6^b(51.9 × 51.9)	52.8^b	33^a	9^b	2.6^ab	2.0^ab
极度退化 E	1047.2^a (32.4 × 32.4)	3637.0^a (60.3 × 60.3)	58.6^a	39^a	14^a	3.3^a	2.8^a