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AOBPreview originally published online on June 21, 2006
Annals of Botany 2006 98(2):439-447; doi:10.1093/aob/mcl122
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Effect of Root System Morphology on Root-sprouting and Shoot-rooting Abilities in 123 Plant Species from Eroded Lands in North-east Spain

JOAQUÍN GUERRERO-CAMPO1,*, SARA PALACIO1, CARMEN PÉREZ-RONTOMÉ2 and GABRIEL MONTSERRAT-MARTÍ1

1 Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (CSIC), Aptdo. 202, 50080 Zaragoza, Spain and 2 Estación Experimental de Aula Dei (CSIC), Apdo. 202, 50080 Zaragoza, Spain

* For correspondence. Present address: Servicio Provincial de Medio Ambiente, Diputación General de Aragón. Pza. San Pedro Nolasco 7, 50071 Zaragoza, Spain. E-mail jguerrero{at}aragon.es

Received: 17 May 2005    Returned for revision: 3 August 2005    Accepted: 4 April 2006    Published electronically: 21 June 2006

• Background and Aims The objective of this study was to test whether the mean values of several root morphological variables were related to the ability to develop root-borne shoots and/or shoot-borne roots in a wide range of vascular plants.

• Methods A comparative study was carried out on the 123 most common plant species from eroded lands in north-east Spain. After careful excavations in the field, measurements were taken of the maximum root depth, absolute and relative basal root diameter, specific root length (SRL), and the root depth/root lateral spread ratio on at least three individuals per species. Shoot-rooting and root-sprouting were observed in a large number of individuals in many eroded and sedimentary environments. The effect of life history and phylogeny on shoot-rooting and root-sprouting abilities was also analysed.

• Key Results The species with coarse and deep tap-roots tended to be root-sprouting and those with fine, fasciculate and long main roots (which generally spread laterally), tended to be shoot-rooting. Phylogeny had an important influence on root system morphology and shoot-rooting and root-sprouting capacities. However, the above relations stood after applying analyses based on phylogenetically independent contrasts (PICs).

• Conclusions The main morphological features of the root system of the study species are related to their ability to sprout from their roots and form roots from their shoots. According to the results, such abilities might only be functionally viable in restricted root system morphologies and ecological strategies.

Key words: Root architecture, root morphology, root-borne shoots, shoot-borne roots, sprouting, soil erosion, functional strategies


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S. Palacio, M. Maestro, and G. Montserrat-Marti
Relationship between Shoot-rooting and Root-sprouting Abilities and the Carbohydrate and Nitrogen Reserves of Mediterranean Dwarf Shrubs
Ann. Bot., October 1, 2007; 100(4): 865 - 874.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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