Proportional dry‐mass content as an underlying trait for the variation in relative growth rate among 22 Eurasian populations of <i>Dactylis glomerata</i> s.l.

Ryser, Peter; Aeschlimann, U.

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2435.1999.00349.x

Cited by 37 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Leaf studies among species differing in relative growth rate largely support these theories on plant growth strategy, and correlate fast growth with short-lived leaves of high leaf area:mass ratio, high nitrogen concentration, fast photosynthetic rate and low tissue density (e.g. Ryser and Aeschlimann 1999;Wright and Westoby 2000). These correlations in leaf traits have been found across plants from different biomes, suggesting global convergence in plant functioning (Reich et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Linking root traits to potential growth rate in six temperate tree species

2002

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There is an extremely limited understanding of how plants of different potential growth rate vary in root traits, especially in woody species. We contrasted fine root morphology, physiology, and elemental construction between a fast- and a slow-growing species in each of three families: Aceraceae (maple), Fagaceae (oak), and Pinaceae (pine). Measurements were primarily made on 1-year-old seedlings growing in a growth chamber. Across all three families, first- and second-order roots of fast-growing species had greater specific root length, thinner diameters, and faster respiration rates than those of slow-growing species. These fine roots of fast-growing species in Aceraceae and Fagaceae also had faster phosphorus (P) uptake on a surface area basis than those of slow-growing species, whereas little difference in P uptake was found between Pinaceae species. On a dry weight basis, roots of fast-growing species in Aceraceae and Fagaceae had higher nitrogen concentrations, lower carbon:nitrogen ratios and higher tissue construction costs than roots of slow-growing species (data were unavailable for Pinaceae). Tissue density did not vary in a consistent pattern between fast- and slow-growing species across all three families (P=0.169). To better understand the ecological significance of differences in these root characteristics, a root efficiency model was used to compare P uptake and root carbon (C) cost of each species in simulated field situations in two soils, one with low P buffering capacity (loamy sand) and another with relatively high P buffering capacity (silt loam). For the soil conditions modeled, fast-growing species of Aceraceae and Fagaceae were 17-70% more efficient (defined as cumulative P gain divided by cumulative C cost) at nutrient capture than slow-growing species while the fast-growing Pinaceae species was 20-24% less efficient than the slow-growing species. However, among all three families, roots of fast-growing species reached maximum lifetime efficiency 5-120 days sooner, depending on soil type. Thus, modeling results indicated that root traits of fast- and slow-growing species affected P acquisition in simulated field soil although soil type also had a strong impact.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Linking root traits to potential growth rate in six temperate tree species

2002

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“…The generality of a close association between tissue density and growth rate (Ryser and Lambers 1995;Ryser and Aeschlimann 1999) opens up the possibility to use these parameters to distinguish amongst Brachiaria hybrids in response to variation in P supply.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As described by Ryser and Aeschlimann (1999), to reflect tissue mass densities of leaves (LMD), stems (SMD) and roots (RMD), we measured tissue dry biomass content (that is, the tissue DM/FM ratio). The root growth rate was calculated as the root biomass produced per day for the 30-d growth period.…”

Section: Growth Parameters Nutrient Analysis and Enzyme Activitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparative study on plant growth and root plasticity responses of two Brachiaria forage grasses grown in nutrient solution at low and high phosphorus supply

et al. 2009

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Brachiaria forage grasses are widely used for livestock production in the tropics. Signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk, CIAT 606) is better adapted to low phosphorus (P) soils than ruzigrass (B. ruziziensis cv. Kennedy, CIAT 654), but the physiological basis of differences in low-P adaptation is unknown. We characterized morphological and physiological responses of signalgrass and ruzigrass to low P supply by growing both grasses for 30 days in nutrient solution with two levels of P supply using the hydroxyapatite pouch system. Ruzigrass produced more biomass at both levels of P supply whilst signalgrass appears to be a slowergrowing grass. Both grasses increased biomass allocation to roots and had higher root acid phosphatase and phytase activities at low P supply. At low P supply, ruzigrass showed greater morphological plasticity as its leaf mass density and lateral root fraction increased. For signalgrass, morphological traits that are not responsive to variation in P supply might confer long-term ecological advantages contributing to its superior field persistence: greater shoot tissue mass density (dry matter content) might lower nutrient requirements while maintenance of lateral root growth might be important for nutrient acquisition in patchy soils. Physiological plasticity in nutrient partitioning between root classes was also evident for signalgrass as main roots had higher nutrient concentrations at high P supply. Our results highlight the importance of analyzing morphological and physiological trait profiles and determining the role of phenotypic plasticity to characterize differences in low-P adaptation between Brachiaria genotypes.

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“…References on theory and significance: Eliáš (1985); Garnier (1992); Garnier and Laurent (1994); Cornelissen et al (1996; Ryser (1996); Grime et al (1997); Cunningham et al (1999); Hodgson et al (1999); Niinemets (1999Niinemets ( , 2001); Poorter and Garnier (1999); Roderick et al (1999); Ryser and Aeschlimann (1999); Wilson et al (1999); Ryser and Urbas (2000); Garnier et al (2001a); Shipley and Vu (2002); Vendramini et al (2002); .…”

Section: Special Cases or Extrasmentioning

confidence: 99%

A handbook of protocols for standardised and easy measurement of plant functional traits worldwide

Cornelissen¹,

Lavorel²,

Garnier³

et al. 2003

Aust. J. Bot.

3,384

3,233

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There is growing recognition that classifying terrestrial plant species on the basis of their function (into 'functional types') rather than their higher taxonomic identity, is a promising way forward for tackling important ecological questions at the scale of ecosystems, landscapes or biomes. These questions include those on vegetation responses to and vegetation effects on, environmental changes (e.g. changes in climate, atmospheric chemistry, land use or other disturbances). There is also growing consensus about a shortlist of plant traits that should underlie such functional plant classifications, because they have strong predictive power of important ecosystem responses to environmental change and/or they themselves have strong impacts on ecosystem processes. The most favoured traits are those that are also relatively easy and inexpensive to measure for large numbers of plant species. Large international research efforts, promoted by the IGBP–GCTE Programme, are underway to screen predominant plant species in various ecosystems and biomes worldwide for such traits. This paper provides an international methodological protocol aimed at standardising this research effort, based on consensus among a broad group of scientists in this field. It features a practical handbook with step-by-step recipes, with relatively brief information about the ecological context, for 28 functional traits recognised as critical for tackling large-scale ecological questions.

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Proportional dry‐mass content as an underlying trait for the variation in relative growth rate among 22 Eurasian populations of Dactylis glomerata s.l.

Cited by 37 publications

References 43 publications

Linking root traits to potential growth rate in six temperate tree species

Linking root traits to potential growth rate in six temperate tree species

A comparative study on plant growth and root plasticity responses of two Brachiaria forage grasses grown in nutrient solution at low and high phosphorus supply

A handbook of protocols for standardised and easy measurement of plant functional traits worldwide

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