Differences in Fine Root Foraging Traits of Two Dominant Tree Species (<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Quercus acutissima</i>) in Subtropical Forests
Root biomass and length growth, functional traits, and their responses to soil nutrient availability are crucial for resource acquisition under environmental change. Previous studies have focused on the response of root morphological, architectural, and chemical traits to fertilization, while less a...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/2/336 |
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| author | Xinying Xu Rui Tan Huimei Shao Jiacun Gu Weifeng Wang Guobing Wang Shuiqiang Yu |
| author_facet | Xinying Xu Rui Tan Huimei Shao Jiacun Gu Weifeng Wang Guobing Wang Shuiqiang Yu |
| author_sort | Xinying Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Root biomass and length growth, functional traits, and their responses to soil nutrient availability are crucial for resource acquisition under environmental change. Previous studies have focused on the response of root morphological, architectural, and chemical traits to fertilization, while less attention has been given to root biomass and length growth, as well as mycorrhizal symbiosis, impeding a full understanding of root resource acquisition strategies. Here, using a nutrient addition experiment (control, inorganic, and organic nutrients), we explored the responses of function-based root (absorptive fine roots [AFRs] versus transport fine roots [TFRs]) growth, functional traits (morphological, architectural, and chemical traits), and mycorrhizal colonization of <i>C. lanceolat</i> and <i>Q. acutissim</i>, which are the dominant tree species in subtropical China. The results showed that the fine root biomass and total root length of AFRs for both tree species basically decreased significantly after nutrient addition, but TFRs responded less sensitively than AFRs. Nutrient addition significantly increased the mycorrhizal colonization rate in <i>C. lanceolata</i> but decreased it in <i>Q. acutissima</i>. The diameter of AFRs for <i>C. lanceolata</i> increased significantly, while the branch ratio and branch intensity decreased significantly in both inorganic nutrients (NPK) and organic nutrients (F); however, the opposite response pattern occurred for <i>Q. acutissima</i>. Fine root biomass, total root length, and root nutrient concentration exhibited the most plastic responses to changes in nutrient availability. The magnitude of the plastic response of fine root traits was slightly higher in the NPK treatment than in the F treatment. Our findings suggest that the responses of fine root traits and mycorrhizal fungi to nutrient addition were species-specific: <i>C. lanceolata</i> depended on mycorrhizal fungi for resource acquisition, while <i>Q. acutissima</i> could acquire soil nutrient resources by increasing root branching. The contrasting nutrient acquisition strategies between tree species may facilitate plant species coexistence and distribution under soil nutrient change. Fine root biomass and total root length emerged as more pivotal indicators for nutrient acquisition strategies compared to morphological traits. |
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| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:32:17Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-18b459ef975a4a22ae19722029f813402024-02-23T15:16:58ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072024-02-0115233610.3390/f15020336Differences in Fine Root Foraging Traits of Two Dominant Tree Species (<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Quercus acutissima</i>) in Subtropical ForestsXinying Xu0Rui Tan1Huimei Shao2Jiacun Gu3Weifeng Wang4Guobing Wang5Shuiqiang Yu6Department of Ecology, College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaDepartment of Ecology, College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaDepartment of Ecology, College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaKey Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management—Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaDepartment of Ecology, College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaDepartment of Ecology, College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaDepartment of Ecology, College of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaRoot biomass and length growth, functional traits, and their responses to soil nutrient availability are crucial for resource acquisition under environmental change. Previous studies have focused on the response of root morphological, architectural, and chemical traits to fertilization, while less attention has been given to root biomass and length growth, as well as mycorrhizal symbiosis, impeding a full understanding of root resource acquisition strategies. Here, using a nutrient addition experiment (control, inorganic, and organic nutrients), we explored the responses of function-based root (absorptive fine roots [AFRs] versus transport fine roots [TFRs]) growth, functional traits (morphological, architectural, and chemical traits), and mycorrhizal colonization of <i>C. lanceolat</i> and <i>Q. acutissim</i>, which are the dominant tree species in subtropical China. The results showed that the fine root biomass and total root length of AFRs for both tree species basically decreased significantly after nutrient addition, but TFRs responded less sensitively than AFRs. Nutrient addition significantly increased the mycorrhizal colonization rate in <i>C. lanceolata</i> but decreased it in <i>Q. acutissima</i>. The diameter of AFRs for <i>C. lanceolata</i> increased significantly, while the branch ratio and branch intensity decreased significantly in both inorganic nutrients (NPK) and organic nutrients (F); however, the opposite response pattern occurred for <i>Q. acutissima</i>. Fine root biomass, total root length, and root nutrient concentration exhibited the most plastic responses to changes in nutrient availability. The magnitude of the plastic response of fine root traits was slightly higher in the NPK treatment than in the F treatment. Our findings suggest that the responses of fine root traits and mycorrhizal fungi to nutrient addition were species-specific: <i>C. lanceolata</i> depended on mycorrhizal fungi for resource acquisition, while <i>Q. acutissima</i> could acquire soil nutrient resources by increasing root branching. The contrasting nutrient acquisition strategies between tree species may facilitate plant species coexistence and distribution under soil nutrient change. Fine root biomass and total root length emerged as more pivotal indicators for nutrient acquisition strategies compared to morphological traits.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/2/336nutrient additionforaging strategyfine root traitsmycorrhizal fungi |
| spellingShingle | Xinying Xu Rui Tan Huimei Shao Jiacun Gu Weifeng Wang Guobing Wang Shuiqiang Yu Differences in Fine Root Foraging Traits of Two Dominant Tree Species (<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Quercus acutissima</i>) in Subtropical Forests Forests nutrient addition foraging strategy fine root traits mycorrhizal fungi |
| title | Differences in Fine Root Foraging Traits of Two Dominant Tree Species (<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Quercus acutissima</i>) in Subtropical Forests |
| title_full | Differences in Fine Root Foraging Traits of Two Dominant Tree Species (<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Quercus acutissima</i>) in Subtropical Forests |
| title_fullStr | Differences in Fine Root Foraging Traits of Two Dominant Tree Species (<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Quercus acutissima</i>) in Subtropical Forests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differences in Fine Root Foraging Traits of Two Dominant Tree Species (<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Quercus acutissima</i>) in Subtropical Forests |
| title_short | Differences in Fine Root Foraging Traits of Two Dominant Tree Species (<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Quercus acutissima</i>) in Subtropical Forests |
| title_sort | differences in fine root foraging traits of two dominant tree species i cunninghamia lanceolata i and i quercus acutissima i in subtropical forests |
| topic | nutrient addition foraging strategy fine root traits mycorrhizal fungi |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/2/336 |
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