A molecular method to identify species of fine roots and to predict the proportion of a species in mixed samples in subtropical forests

Zeng, Weixian; Zhou, Bo; Zeng, Yeling; Liu, Yan; Liu, Cong; Xiang, Wenhua

doi:10.3389/fpls.2015.00313

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Zeng et al (2015) also recently reported successful root identification of 11 tree species in a Chinese subtropical forest via trnL sequencing. Although many studies adopt a root-tracing approach, the important strategy taken here to confirm host species via molecular tools is rarely adopted and we promote this as a straightforward and appropriate method for verification in mixed species communities where reference material is available.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although many studies adopt a root-tracing approach, the important strategy taken here to confirm host species via molecular tools is rarely adopted and we promote this as a straightforward and appropriate method for verification in mixed species communities where reference material is available. As well as trnL (Dumbrell et al 2010;Zeng et al 2015), other suitable gene regions might include trnH-psbA (Jones et al…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Arbuscular mycorrhizal community structure on co-existing tropical legume trees in French Guiana

et al. 2016

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Aims: We aimed to characterise the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) community structure and potential edaphic determinants in the dominating, but poorly described, root-colonizing Paris-type AMF community on co-occurring Amazonian leguminous trees. Methods:We targeted three highly productive leguminous trees Results: Classical approaches targeting abundant SSU ampliconshighlighted a diverse root-colonizing symbiotic AMF community dominated by members of the Glomeraceae. DGGE profiling indicated that, of the edaphic factors investigated, soil nitrogen was most important in influencing the AMF community and this was more important than any host tree species effect. Conclusions: Dominating Paris-type mycorrhizal leguminous trees inAmazonian soils host diverse and novel taxa within the Glomeraceae that appear under edaphic selection in the investigated tropical forests.Linking symbiotic diversity of identified AMF taxa to ecological processes is the next challenge ahead.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arbuscular mycorrhizal community structure on co-existing tropical legume trees in French Guiana

et al. 2016

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“…Until recently, the identification of fine roots was a limiting factor in ecological studies since the roots of distinct species closely intermingle and can be difficult to distinguish morphologically (Mommer et al 2010). Molecular methods provide an effective approach to identify roots in diverse plant communities (Jones et al 2011, Hiiesalu et al 2012, Frank et al 2015, Zeng et al 2015, 2017), making it possible to estimate standing root biomass at the species level (Valverde‐Barrantes et al 2015, Oram et al 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive tree diversity effect on fine root biomass: via density dependence rather than spatial root partitioning

Zeng

Xiang

Zhou

et al. 2020

Oikos

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The importance of species richness to ecosystem functioning and services is a central tenet of biological conservation. However, most of our theory and mechanistic understanding is based on diversity found aboveground. Our study sought to better understand the relationship between diversity and belowground function by studying root biomass across a plant diversity gradient. We collected soil cores from 91 plots with between 1 and 12 aboveground tree species in three natural secondary forests to measure fine root (≤ 2 mm in diameter) biomass. Molecular methods were used to identify the tree species of fine roots and to estimate fine root biomass for each species. This study tested whether the spatial root partitioning (species differ by belowground territory) and symmetric growth (the capacity to colonize nutrient-rich hotspots) underpin the relationship between aboveground species richness and fine root biomass. All species preferred to grow in nutrient-rich areas and symmetric growth could explain the positive relationship between aboveground species richness and fine root biomass. However, symmetric growth only appeared in the nutrient-rich upper soil layer (0-10 cm). Structural equation modelling indicated that aboveground species richness and stand density significantly affected fine root biomass. Specifically, fine root biomass depended on the interaction between aboveground species richness and stand density, with fine root biomass increasing with species richness at lower stand density, but not at higher stand density. Overall, evidence for spatial (i.e. vertical) root partitioning was inconsistent; assumingly any roots growing into deeper unexplored soil layers were not sufficient contributors to the positive diversity-function relationship. Alternatively, density-dependent biotic interactions affecting tree recruitment are an important driver affecting productivity in diverse subtropical forests but the usual root distribution patterns in line with the spatial root partitioning hypothesis are unrealistic in contexts where soil nutrients are heterogeneously distributed.

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“…In the global carbon cycle, roots of forest trees are an important reservoir of carbon, which is an important component of C pool in terrestrial ecosystem and plays a vital role on global carbon flux and carbon library [ 1 , 2 ]. In this context, in the past few decades, a lot of interests have been arose with fine root biomass and production in forest, since fine roots accounted for as much as one-third of global net primary productivity [ 3 , 4 ] and are primary responsible for water and nutrient uptake by trees [ 5 , 6 ]. Belowground interactions among co-occurring species play critical roles on the community structure and distribution of plants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal changes of fine root overyielding and foraging strategies in planted monoculture and mixed forests

et al. 2018

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BackgroundMixed forests are believed to enhance ecosystem functioning and sustainability due to complementary resource use, environmental benefits and improved soil properties. The facilitation between different species may induce overyielding. Meanwhile, the species-specific fine root foraging strategies and tradeoffs would determine the structure and dynamics of plant communities. Here the aim was to investigate the admixing effects of fine-root biomass, vertical distribution and morphology in Pinus massoniana–Cinnamomum camphora mixed plantations and corresponding monocultures at 10-, 24- and 45-year old stands.ResultsThe fine root biomass in the Pinus–Cinnamomum mixed forest exerted a certain degree of overyielding effect. These positive admixing effects, however, did not enhance with forest stand development. The overall relative yield total ranged from 1.83 and 1.51 to 1.33 in 10-, 24- and 45-year-old stand, respectively. The overyielding was mainly attributed to the over-performance of late successional species, Cinnamomum, in mixed stands. The vertical fine root biomass distribution model showed fine roots of pioneer species, Pinus, shifted to the superficial layer when mixed with Cinnamomum. Furthermore, the specific root length (SRL) of Pinus was significantly higher in Pinus–Cinnamomum mixed stands than that in monocultures, and the magnitude of differences increased over time. However, the vertical fine-root distribution and SRL for Cinnamomum did not show significant differences between monoculture and mixtures.ConclusionsOur results indicated that the magnitude of fine root overyielding in mixed forests showed a high degree of consistency with the total amount of fine root biomass itself, suggesting the overyielding effects in mixed forests were correlated with the degree of belowground interaction and competition degree involved. The late successional species, Cinnamomum, invested more carbon to belowground by increasing the fine root biomass in mixtures. While the pioneer species, Pinus, adapted to the presence of the species Cinnamomum by modification of vertical distribution and root morphological plasticity in the mixtures. These species-specific fine root foraging strategies might imply the differences of forest growth strategies of co-occurring species and contribute to the success and failure of particular species during the succession over time.

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A molecular method to identify species of fine roots and to predict the proportion of a species in mixed samples in subtropical forests

Cited by 9 publications

References 32 publications

Arbuscular mycorrhizal community structure on co-existing tropical legume trees in French Guiana

Arbuscular mycorrhizal community structure on co-existing tropical legume trees in French Guiana

Positive tree diversity effect on fine root biomass: via density dependence rather than spatial root partitioning

Temporal changes of fine root overyielding and foraging strategies in planted monoculture and mixed forests

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