Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2023, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (1): 88-100.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2022.0131

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Relationships between root hairs and mycorrhizal fungi across typical subtropical tree species

ZHANG Hui1,2,3, ZENG Wen-Jing1,2,*(), GONG Xin-Tao4, MA Ze-Qing1,2,*()   

  1. 1Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    2Qianyanzhou Subtropical Forest Ecological Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ji’an, Jiangxi 343700, China
    3College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    4School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2022-04-11 Accepted:2022-05-19 Online:2023-01-20 Published:2022-07-15
  • Contact: *ZENG Wen-Jing(zengwj@igsnrr.ac.cn);MA Ze-Qing(mazq@igsnrr.ac.cn)
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(31822010);National Key R&D Program of China(2020YFA0608102)

Abstract:

Aims Root hairs and mycorrhizal fungi, by increasing absorbing area of plant roots, promote ability of plants in acquiring soil resources such as phosphorus (P). The combination of absorptive roots, root hairs, and mycorrhizal fungi differs among distinct plant species, resulting in variations in acquisition of soil resources. At present, in situ quantifications of microstructures on the surface of roots is difficult, and relationships among absorptive roots, root hairs, and mycorrhizal fungi underlying the adaptation of soil P gradient in different woody plants remain largely unknown.
Methods We investigated 21 tree species in a subtropical forest and examined the existence of root hairs. We quantified the variation of root hair characteristics and analyzed the relationships between root hairs, mycorrhizal colonization rate, root traits along with soil P availability.
Important findings 1) Root hairs did not commonly exist in 21 subtropical tree species. We only observed root hairs in seven species, including four arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) trees and three ectomycorrhizal (ECM) trees. Root hair occurrence rate was highest in Pinus massoniana (86%). 2) Mycorrhizal type is key to understanding the relationships between root hairs and mycorrhizal fungi. Root hair density was significantly positively correlated with mycorrhizal fungi colonization rate in AM trees. In contrast, in ECM trees, root hair diameter was significantly negatively correlated with mycorrhizal fungi colonization rate. 3) Root hair length and diameter were negatively correlated with soil available P content in AM trees, while root hair occurrence rate decreased with the soil available P content in ECM trees. Our results improve the understanding of root hairs and their interaction with other plant traits in natural forest stands, which lay the foundation for better predictions of nutrient acquisition strategies.

Key words: root hair occurrence rate, root hair length, root hair density, root hair diameter, mycorrhizal fungi colonization rate, soil available phosphorus