Analysis of architecture and functions of fine roots of five subtropical tree species in Huitong, Hunan Province, China

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.08.006

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Our objectives were to examine: 1) fine root architecture among five subtropical tree species in southern China; 2) nutrient concentrations across different branch orders and 3) the relationship between root architecture and nutrient exploration strategy.

Methods Intact fine root segments of Cyclobalanopsis glauca, Liquidambar formosana, Alniphyllum fortunei, Cunninghamia lanceolata and Pinus massoniana were collected by excavation in Huitong County, Hunan Province, China. Individual roots were dissected according to the branching order, starting from the distal end of the root system that was numbered as the first order and then increasing sequentially with each branch from the first order to higher order roots. Following dissection, fine root samples were scanned by the Win-RHIZO system to analyze specific root length (SRL), specific root surface area (SRA), diameter, tips and forks. Fine root samples were then oven-dried at 85 °C to a constant weight to determine weight. The contents of C and N in a given order were determined using the wet combustion and the semimicro-Kjeldahl methods, respectively.

Important findings The SRL and SRA decreased and root diameter increased from the first to third order roots for all species. Significant differences among species were also observed for fine root morphology and architecture; the highest SRL (31.45 m·g^-1) of the first order roots was observed for L. formosana and the lowest SRL (16.34 m·g^-1) was observed for Cunninghamia lanceolata. The highest SRA was found in the first and the second order roots of P. massoniana; the first order roots of Cunninghamia lanceolata and the second order roots of Cyclobalanopsis glauca had the lowest The SRA. Cunninghamia lanceolata had the largest fine root diameter, and A. fortunei had the smallest. No significant differences were found for the number of fine root tips, but there were large differences for number of forks among species. Apart from Cunninghamia lanceolata and L. formosana, C content in fine roots has been observed to significantly increase as root order increased. The C/N ratio increased from low to high root order, and N content decreased. C content was highest in Cunninghamia lanceolata and lowest in A. fortunei. No significant differences were found among the other species. N content was highest in A. fortunei and lowest in P. massoniana. The C/N ratio was highest in P. massoniana and lowest in A. fortunei.

Key words: Alniphyllum fortunei, C/N ratio, Cunninghamia lanceolata, Cyclobalanopsis glauca, fine roots, Liquidanbar formosana, Pinus massoniana, specific root surface area (SRA), specific root length (SRL), subtropical area in China

LIU Jia, XIANG Wen-Hua, XU Xiao, CHEN Rui, TIAN Da-Lun, PENG Chang-Hui, FANG Xi. Analysis of architecture and functions of fine roots of five subtropical tree species in Huitong, Hunan Province, China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2010, 34(8): 938-945.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.08.006

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2010/V34/I8/938

Figures/Tables 5

References 20

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变异来源 Source of variation	比根长 SRL	比表面积SRA	细根直径 Fine root diameter	C含量 C content	N含量 N content	C/N比 C/N ratio
树种×根序 Tree species × Root order	0.007 8**	0.074 7	0.007 5**	0.027 2*	< 0.000 1**	< 0.000 1**
树种 Tree species	0.050 1	0.056 2	0.000 2**	< 0.000 1**	0.023 4**	< 0.000 1**
根序 Root order	< 0.000 1*	< 0.000 1**	< 0.000 1**	< 0.000 1**	< 0.000 1**	< 0.000 1**

变异来源 Source of variation	比根长 SRL	比表面积SRA	细根直径 Fine root diameter	C含量 C content	N含量 N content	C/N比 C/N ratio
树种×根序 Tree species × Root order	0.007 8**	0.074 7	0.007 5**	0.027 2*	< 0.000 1**	< 0.000 1**
树种 Tree species	0.050 1	0.056 2	0.000 2**	< 0.000 1**	0.023 4**	< 0.000 1**
根序 Root order	< 0.000 1*	< 0.000 1**	< 0.000 1**	< 0.000 1**	< 0.000 1**	< 0.000 1**

树种 Tree species	比根长 SRL (m·g^-1)			比表面积 SRA (cm²·g^-1)			根尖密度 Tip density (No.·cm^-1)	分叉 Forks (No.·cm^-1)
树种 Tree species	1	2	3	1	2	3	根尖密度 Tip density (No.·cm^-1)	分叉 Forks (No.·cm^-1)
马尾松 Pinus massoniana	23.53^ab (10.06)	11.73^a (4.34)	4.00^ab (0.72)	272.95^a (80.27)	184.08^a (40.16)	102.36^ab (26.7)	2.99^a (0.29)	5.09^a (1.11)
枫香 Liquidanbar formosana	31.45^a (11.67)	9.42^a (2.97)	3.71^ab (0.69)	271.72^a (75.45)	142.28^a (27.33)	84.73^ab (21.6)	2.85^a (0.21)	3.09^b (1.52)
拟赤杨 Alniphyllum fortunei	28.26^ab (12.89)	11.56^a (5.59)	4.13^ab (0.69)	247.20^a (76.57)	146.68^a (34.33)	82.86^ab (34.38)	2.38^a (0.27)	5.16^a (1.20)
青冈 Cyclobalanopsis glauca	23.40^ab (8.21)	8.67^a (10.56)	2.17^b (0.72)	228.85^a (78.60)	139.92^a (91.43)	61.57^b (14.43)	2.92^a (0.23)	3.95^ab (1.34)
杉木 Cunninghamia lanceolata	16.34b (10.07)	9.38a (3.57)	5.20a (0.72)	226.79a (37.25)	166.35a (41.75)	139.76a (90.48)	2.57a (0.22)	2.46b (0.77)

树种 Tree species	比根长 SRL (m·g^-1)			比表面积 SRA (cm²·g^-1)			根尖密度 Tip density (No.·cm^-1)	分叉 Forks (No.·cm^-1)
树种 Tree species	1	2	3	1	2	3	根尖密度 Tip density (No.·cm^-1)	分叉 Forks (No.·cm^-1)
马尾松 Pinus massoniana	23.53^ab (10.06)	11.73^a (4.34)	4.00^ab (0.72)	272.95^a (80.27)	184.08^a (40.16)	102.36^ab (26.7)	2.99^a (0.29)	5.09^a (1.11)
枫香 Liquidanbar formosana	31.45^a (11.67)	9.42^a (2.97)	3.71^ab (0.69)	271.72^a (75.45)	142.28^a (27.33)	84.73^ab (21.6)	2.85^a (0.21)	3.09^b (1.52)
拟赤杨 Alniphyllum fortunei	28.26^ab (12.89)	11.56^a (5.59)	4.13^ab (0.69)	247.20^a (76.57)	146.68^a (34.33)	82.86^ab (34.38)	2.38^a (0.27)	5.16^a (1.20)
青冈 Cyclobalanopsis glauca	23.40^ab (8.21)	8.67^a (10.56)	2.17^b (0.72)	228.85^a (78.60)	139.92^a (91.43)	61.57^b (14.43)	2.92^a (0.23)	3.95^ab (1.34)
杉木 Cunninghamia lanceolata	16.34b (10.07)	9.38a (3.57)	5.20a (0.72)	226.79a (37.25)	166.35a (41.75)	139.76a (90.48)	2.57a (0.22)	2.46b (0.77)