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Root-soil contact dynamics of Vicia faba in sand

Root-soil contact dynamics of Vicia faba in sand
Root-soil contact dynamics of Vicia faba in sand

Aims: Root shrinkage in drying soil has been shown repeatedly. The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics of root-soil contact and its relationship with plant water status during soil drying. Methods: The development of root-soil contact of Vicia faba L. during a drying period was studied. Plants (N = 4) were grown in cylinders filled with a sandy soil. Samples were repeatedly scanned with an X-ray CT scanner to visualize root-soil contact. Soil matric potential, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance were measured daily. Results: Root-soil contact was lower in taproots than in lateral roots at any time. Transpiration rate and stomatal conductance decreased before roots started to shrink. Root-soil contact decreased significantly over the course of the drying period, starting at soil matric potentials below −20 kPa. Root shrinkage did not differ significantly between taproots and laterals. Conclusions: This study confirms previous findings with Lupinus albus roots in that roots shrink after transpiration rate decreases. The dynamics of root shrinkage are governed by soil water availability and transpirational demand.

Drought stress, Rhizosphere, Root shrinkage, Root-soil contact, X-ray CT
0032-079X
Koebernick, Nicolai
118c4e45-02d8-42da-84c8-8ee4fac140ad
Schlüter, Steffen
c962436c-df65-4593-8e0c-30808168a8d7
Blaser, Sebastian R.G.A.
62fcb50d-3446-4ff1-90e1-4db31e9a0b14
Vetterlein, Doris
d816b682-7bd8-4b93-bac6-806e073f3335
Koebernick, Nicolai
118c4e45-02d8-42da-84c8-8ee4fac140ad
Schlüter, Steffen
c962436c-df65-4593-8e0c-30808168a8d7
Blaser, Sebastian R.G.A.
62fcb50d-3446-4ff1-90e1-4db31e9a0b14
Vetterlein, Doris
d816b682-7bd8-4b93-bac6-806e073f3335

Koebernick, Nicolai, Schlüter, Steffen, Blaser, Sebastian R.G.A. and Vetterlein, Doris (2018) Root-soil contact dynamics of Vicia faba in sand. Plant and Soil. (doi:10.1007/s11104-018-3769-4).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Aims: Root shrinkage in drying soil has been shown repeatedly. The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics of root-soil contact and its relationship with plant water status during soil drying. Methods: The development of root-soil contact of Vicia faba L. during a drying period was studied. Plants (N = 4) were grown in cylinders filled with a sandy soil. Samples were repeatedly scanned with an X-ray CT scanner to visualize root-soil contact. Soil matric potential, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance were measured daily. Results: Root-soil contact was lower in taproots than in lateral roots at any time. Transpiration rate and stomatal conductance decreased before roots started to shrink. Root-soil contact decreased significantly over the course of the drying period, starting at soil matric potentials below −20 kPa. Root shrinkage did not differ significantly between taproots and laterals. Conclusions: This study confirms previous findings with Lupinus albus roots in that roots shrink after transpiration rate decreases. The dynamics of root shrinkage are governed by soil water availability and transpirational demand.

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Accepted/In Press date: 26 July 2018
e-pub ahead of print date: 14 August 2018
Keywords: Drought stress, Rhizosphere, Root shrinkage, Root-soil contact, X-ray CT

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 424434
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/424434
ISSN: 0032-079X
PURE UUID: 5a23f98f-2040-46dc-9cb3-2e8054960364

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Date deposited: 05 Oct 2018 11:37
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 21:28

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Contributors

Author: Nicolai Koebernick
Author: Steffen Schlüter
Author: Sebastian R.G.A. Blaser
Author: Doris Vetterlein

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