Root Production and Root Turnover in a Wet Tundra Ecosystem, Barrow, Alaska

Shaver, Gus; Billings, W. D.

doi:10.2307/1934970

Cited by 188 publications

(104 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…A slower rate of decomposition of belowground organic matter is expected because of structural polymeric material in roots, oxygen limitation of grazing meiofauna, and a buildup of metabolites and toxins (Howarth and Hobbie 1982). Root-to-shoot ratios (mean annual live biomass of roots and rhizomes : mean annual live aboveground biomass) are usually high in plants growing under harsh environmental conditions (Shaw 19 5 2;Kucera et al 1967;Shaver and Billings 1975;Valiela et al 1976;Smith et al 1979). Our ratios for S. alterniflora (1.7) and S. cynosuroides (2.5) are similar to comparably calculated ratios for S. alterniflora (1.7: Valiela et al, 1976;1.8: Patriquin and McClung 1978;2.4: Livingstone and Patriquin 198 1) and are consistent with the hypothesis relating harshness of environmental conditions to the investment in belowground tissues by plants.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Above‐ and belowground emergent macrophyte production and turnover in a coastal marsh ecosystem, Georgia1

Schubauer

Hopkinson

1984

Limnology & Oceanography

206

100

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Seasonal patterns of aboveground plant mass and the depth distribution of live roots, rhizomes, and dead belowground organic matter were measured for Spartina alterniflora and Spartina cynosuroides in Georgia tidal marshes. Peak live aboveground biomass was 1.6 x higher for S. cynosuroides than for S. alterniflora. Live biomass was 2.4 x more belowground thanaboveground for S. cynosuroides and 1.7 x for S. alterniflora. Rhizomes made up 76 and 87% of live belowground biomass during the year. Mirrored patterns of biomass accumulation and loss in above-and belowground tissues during the year suggest the importance of seasonal storage and redistribution of organic matter.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Above‐ and belowground emergent macrophyte production and turnover in a coastal marsh ecosystem, Georgia1

Schubauer

Hopkinson

1984

Limnology & Oceanography

206

100

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“…This may be an effective means of osmotic adjustment, without having to change the amount of carbon partitioned to root tips. Although the effects of salinity on root diameter were not determined here, it is interesting to note that small diameter roots are often associated with reduced longevity in roots (Shaver & Billings, 1975;Vogt & Bloomfield, 1991). It is possible that the salt-enhanced root death rates observed in UC82B during the reproductive growth phase (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effects of salinity on root growth and death dynamics of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.

Snapp¹,

Shennan²

1992

New Phytologist

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SUMMARYNumerous hydroponic studies have shown that root growth of tomato {Ly coper sicon esculentum Mill.) is little affected by salinity. In contrast, data from soil-grown plants show salinity may induce reductions of up to 50 "" in root length density. In this study, root growth of two tomato cultivars exposed to salinity (NaCl and CaClj, 4:1) was examined in the field, in large soil-filled containers, and in hydroponics. The two cultivars, UC82B and CX83O3, differed in susceptibility to a common root rot organism {Phytophthora parasitica Dast.), and were hypothesized to differ in root growth response to environmental stress. In agreement with the literature, root weight of young, hydroponically-grown plants (as determined by multiple, destructive harvests) was unaffected by salinity in both cultivars. In contrast, root length density of cv. UC82B was reduced 40 % by salinity in the field, whereas root length density of root rot-tolerant cv. CX83O3 was unaffected. Similar responses to salinity were observed in the containers, with root counts from horizontal minirhizotron tubes reduced in cv. UC82B, but not in cv. CX83O3. Observations from windows in the sides of the containers showed that reduction in net root growth in cv. UC82B was primarily due to an increased rate of root death at high salinity. Root turnover remained low in cv. CX83O3 under both low and high salinity. Differential effects of salinity on root growth of the two cultivars in containers were not evident until about 60 d after transplanting. This suggests that the discrepancy between salinity responses of hydroponic and soil-grown plants was primarily due to differences in phenology. Enhanced rates of root death during the reproductive growth stage may represent an important, previously undocumented carbon cost to some genotypes exposed to salinity.

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“…However, substantial costs may also be associated with construction of roots of high SRL. Limited comparisons of cold desert shrubs (Caldwell & Camp, 1974;Fernandez & Caldwell, 1975), chaparral shrubs (Kummerow, Krause & Jow, 1978) and tundra graminoids (Shaver & Billings, 1975} indicate that plants with roots of small diameter tend to have shorter life spans and higher root turnover rates than those with roots of large diameter. In addition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the relationship between specific root length and the rate of root proliferation: a field study using citrus rootstocks

1991

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SUMMARYThis study tested two hypotheses: (1) species with roots that have a high length to dry mass ratio or specific root length (SRL) also have the potential for high rates of root growth in small volumes of favourable soil and (2) variation in average root diameter fully accounts for variation in SRL. To minimize differences among shoots, the study used 13-year-old 'Valencia' sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] trees budded to rootstocks representing a range of genotypes. Soil cores 7-4 cm in diameter and 14-2 cm deep were extracted from beneath the canopy, and the soil was sieved free of roots and replaced. Root length, diameter and dry weight of the roots in the disturbed soil and adjacent undisturbed soil were evaluated 5, 10, 19 and 40 weeks following soil replacement. The disturbed soil had a higher water content than the undisturbed soil for the Hrst three sampling dates. Averaged across rootstocks, root length density increased in a linear fashion in the disturbed soil and was comparable to that in the undisturbed soil by 40 weeks. Mean root diameter of the fibrous roots ( < 2 mm) declined with age. Rootstocks with the highest SRL had the most rapid rate of root proliferation (cm cm"^ wk"^) (r = 0-94) and the greatest rate of water extraction at 19 weeks (r = 0 79). Although variation in root diameter contributed to rootstock variation in SRL, the data also suggested that rootstocks of high SRL had roots with lower tissue density than those of low SRL {P < O'OS). The potential trade-offs of constructing root systems of high SRL are discussed.

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Root Production and Root Turnover in a Wet Tundra Ecosystem, Barrow, Alaska

Cited by 188 publications

References 10 publications

Above‐ and belowground emergent macrophyte production and turnover in a coastal marsh ecosystem, Georgia1

Above‐ and belowground emergent macrophyte production and turnover in a coastal marsh ecosystem, Georgia1

Effects of salinity on root growth and death dynamics of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.

On the relationship between specific root length and the rate of root proliferation: a field study using citrus rootstocks

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