Effects of Light, N and Defoliation on Biomass Allocation in <i>Poa annua</i>
Plants allocate biomass to above- and below-ground organs in response to environmental conditions. While the broad patterns are well-understood, the mechanisms by which plants allocate new growth remain unclear. Modeling approaches to biomass allocation broadly split into functional equilibrium type...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/9/1783 |
| _version_ | 1797517503600001024 |
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| author | Louis John Irving Sayuki Mori |
| author_facet | Louis John Irving Sayuki Mori |
| author_sort | Louis John Irving |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plants allocate biomass to above- and below-ground organs in response to environmental conditions. While the broad patterns are well-understood, the mechanisms by which plants allocate new growth remain unclear. Modeling approaches to biomass allocation broadly split into functional equilibrium type models and more mechanistically based transport resistance type models. We grew <i>Poa annua</i> plants in split root boxes under high and low light levels, high and low N supplies, with N supplied equally or unequally. Our data suggest that light level had the strongest effect on root mass, with N level being more important in controlling shoot mass. Allocation of growth within the root system was compatible with phloem partitioning models. The root mass fraction was affected by both light and N levels, although within light levels the changes were primarily due to changes in shoot growth, with root mass remaining relatively invariant. Under low light conditions, plants exhibited increased specific leaf area, presumably to compensate for low light levels. In a follow-up experiment, we showed that differential root growth could be suppressed by defoliation under low light conditions. Our data were more compatible with transport resistance type models. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:17:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-860121b226dc49d98af60a71545da6b9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:17:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-860121b226dc49d98af60a71545da6b92023-11-22T14:51:39ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-08-01109178310.3390/plants10091783Effects of Light, N and Defoliation on Biomass Allocation in <i>Poa annua</i>Louis John Irving0Sayuki Mori1School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, JapanSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, JapanPlants allocate biomass to above- and below-ground organs in response to environmental conditions. While the broad patterns are well-understood, the mechanisms by which plants allocate new growth remain unclear. Modeling approaches to biomass allocation broadly split into functional equilibrium type models and more mechanistically based transport resistance type models. We grew <i>Poa annua</i> plants in split root boxes under high and low light levels, high and low N supplies, with N supplied equally or unequally. Our data suggest that light level had the strongest effect on root mass, with N level being more important in controlling shoot mass. Allocation of growth within the root system was compatible with phloem partitioning models. The root mass fraction was affected by both light and N levels, although within light levels the changes were primarily due to changes in shoot growth, with root mass remaining relatively invariant. Under low light conditions, plants exhibited increased specific leaf area, presumably to compensate for low light levels. In a follow-up experiment, we showed that differential root growth could be suppressed by defoliation under low light conditions. Our data were more compatible with transport resistance type models.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/9/1783light levelN supplydifferential growthshoot:rootroot mass fraction |
| spellingShingle | Louis John Irving Sayuki Mori Effects of Light, N and Defoliation on Biomass Allocation in <i>Poa annua</i> Plants light level N supply differential growth shoot:root root mass fraction |
| title | Effects of Light, N and Defoliation on Biomass Allocation in <i>Poa annua</i> |
| title_full | Effects of Light, N and Defoliation on Biomass Allocation in <i>Poa annua</i> |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Light, N and Defoliation on Biomass Allocation in <i>Poa annua</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Light, N and Defoliation on Biomass Allocation in <i>Poa annua</i> |
| title_short | Effects of Light, N and Defoliation on Biomass Allocation in <i>Poa annua</i> |
| title_sort | effects of light n and defoliation on biomass allocation in i poa annua i |
| topic | light level N supply differential growth shoot:root root mass fraction |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/9/1783 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT louisjohnirving effectsoflightnanddefoliationonbiomassallocationinipoaannuai AT sayukimori effectsoflightnanddefoliationonbiomassallocationinipoaannuai |