Editorial: Modulation of Growth and Development of Tree Roots in Forest Ecosystems

Montagnoli, Antonio; Chiatante, Donato; Godbold, Douglas L.; Koike, Takayoshi; Rewald, Boris; Dumroese, R. Kasten

doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.850163

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…We therefore might speculate that the reduction of rooting depth occurring in our study site due to fertilization and characterized by sandy soils would lead to a future forest stand more susceptible to anchorage failure. In addition, papers in a recent topic collection reported that variations in rooting depth may be a key functional trait for determining plant survival and growth in drought-prone regions ( Ji et al, 2021 ; Lihui et al, 2021 ; Montagnoli et al, 2022 ). The shallow root system as observed in our study could be more vulnerable to drought stress since the ability to capture water and nutrients at deeper soil layers would be quite reduced.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fertilization reduces root architecture plasticity in Ulmus pumila used for afforesting Mongolian semi-arid steppe

et al. 2022

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In this study, we assessed the functional and architectural traits in the coarse roots of Ulmus pumila trees, which are used for afforesting the semi-arid steppe of Mongolia. Tree growth was supported by different watering regimes (no watering, 2, 4, and 8 L h−1) and by two types of soil fertilization (NPK and compost). In July, 2019, for each of these treatments six trees, outplanted in 2011 as 2-year-old seedlings from a container nursery, were randomly selected, excavated by hand, and digitized. The build-up of root length correlated positively with increasing levels of watering for both soil depths analyzed. The application of fertilizers led to root growth suppression resulting in a general reduction of root length in a lowered rooting depth. When root system characteristics were analyzed in relation to wind direction, unfertilized trees showed higher root diameter values in both soil layers of leeward quadrants, likely a response to mechanical forces to improve stability. On the contrary, fertilized trees did not show differences in root diameter among the different quadrants underscoring a strong reduction in root plasticity with a lack of morpho-architectural response to the mechanical forces generated by the two prevailing winds. Finally, the root branching density, another important trait for fast dissipation of mechanical forces, was significantly reduced by the fertilization, independently of the quadrants and watering regime. Our results suggest that knowledge of the root response to the afforestation techniques applied in the semi-arid steppe of Mongolia is a necessary step for revealing the susceptibility of this forest shelterbelt to the exacerbating environmental conditions caused by climate change and, thus, to the development of a sustainable and successful strategy to restore degraded lands.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fertilization reduces root architecture plasticity in Ulmus pumila used for afforesting Mongolian semi-arid steppe

et al. 2022

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“…In forest ecosystems, up to 60% of fine roots (< 2 mm diameter) occur in the upper 30 cm of soil 7 . The dynamic shifts in abundance of these roots can help inform how trees interact with their environment because fine roots constitute a substantial amount of annual plant biomass production, are responsible for water and nutrient uptake, and respond rapidly to fluxes in environmental conditions, including stochastic disturbances 34 , 11 . To better understand ecosystem resilience, we also need to better understand how various stressors, including for example, climate, drought, and fire, independently and in concert affect growth and development of single trees and their complex organization into forests 34 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Each ecosystem is adapted to a specific fire regime 31 ; thus, the rise of new wildfire regimes, which implicate an increase in occurrence and severity, may cause abrupt changes in the functioning of forest ecosystems 32 – 34 . This may be especially true for European beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.; hereafter beech) forests in the southern Alps that experienced exceptionally numerous and large fires during the hot and dry summer of 2003 29 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unusual late-fall wildfire in a pre-Alpine Fagus sylvatica forest reduced fine roots in the shallower soil layer and shifted very fine-root growth to deeper soil depth

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Terzaghi

Miali

et al. 2023

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After an unusual, late-fall wildfire in a European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest in the pre-Alps of northern Italy, the finest roots (0‒0.3 mm diameter) were generally the most responsive to fire, with the effect more pronounced at the shallowest soil depth. While roots 0.3‒1 mm in diameter had their length and biomass at the shallowest soil depth reduced by fire, fire stimulated more length and biomass at the deepest soil depth compared to the control. Fire elevated the total length of dead roots and their biomass immediately and this result persisted through the first spring, after which control and fire-impacted trees had similar fine root turnover. Our results unveiled the fine-root response to fire when subdivided by diameter size and soil depth, adding to the paucity of data concerning fire impacts on beech roots in a natural condition and providing the basis for understanding unusual fire occurrence on root traits. This study suggests that F. sylvatica trees can adapt to wildfire by plastically changing the distribution of fine-root growth, indicating a resilience mechanism to disturbance.

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“…In particular, while forest ecosystems are fundamental for reducing the impacts of climate change, they are also severely impacted by extreme weather events, which restrict the ecosystem services they provide and the general tree species distribution across Europe (Nordén et al, 2014;Dyderski et al, 2018;Buras and Menzel, 2019;Montagnoli et al, 2022). These climate-change related modifications have contributed to increased abiotic stressors (e.g., drought, salinity, temperature extremes) and biotic risks in forests (e.g., pathogens and pests, invasive species) (Teshome et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risks, benefits, and knowledge gaps of non-native tree species in Europe

et al. 2022

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Changing ecosystem conditions and diverse socio-economical events have contributed to an ingrained presence of non-native tree species (NNTs) in the natural and cultural European landscapes. Recent research endeavors have focused on different aspects of NNTs such as legislation, benefits, and risks for forestry, emphasizing that large knowledge gaps remain. As an attempt to fulfill part of these gaps, within the PEN-CAFoRR COST Action (CA19128) network, we established an open-access questionnaire that allows both academic experts and practitioners to provide information regarding NNTs from 20 European countries. Then, we integrated the data originating from the questionnaire, related to the country-based assessment of both peer-reviewed and grey literature, with information from available datasets (EUFORGEN and EU-Forest), which gave the main structure to the study and led to a mixed approach review. Finally, our study provided important insights into the current state of knowledge regarding NNTs. In particular, we highlighted NNTs that have shown to be less commonly addressed in research, raising caution about those characterized by an invasive behavior and used for specific purposes (e.g., wood production, soil recultivation, afforestation, and reforestation). NNTs were especially explored in the context of resilient and adaptive forest management. Moreover, we emphasized the assisted and natural northward migration of NNTs as another underscored pressing issue, which needs to be addressed by joint efforts, especially in the context of the hybridization potential. This study represents an additional effort toward the knowledge enhancement of the NNTs situation in Europe, aiming for a continuously active common source deriving from interprofessional collaboration.

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Editorial: Modulation of Growth and Development of Tree Roots in Forest Ecosystems

Cited by 7 publications

References 31 publications

Fertilization reduces root architecture plasticity in Ulmus pumila used for afforesting Mongolian semi-arid steppe

Fertilization reduces root architecture plasticity in Ulmus pumila used for afforesting Mongolian semi-arid steppe

Unusual late-fall wildfire in a pre-Alpine Fagus sylvatica forest reduced fine roots in the shallower soil layer and shifted very fine-root growth to deeper soil depth

Risks, benefits, and knowledge gaps of non-native tree species in Europe

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