Effects of constant and fluctuating soil temperature on growth,development and nutrient uptake of maize seedlings

Summary The effect of constant and fluctuating soil temperature and two soil moisture regimes on the growth, development, transpiration and nutrient uptake by maize seedlings was studied in a greenhouse investigation. The constant root temperatures were maintained at 30, 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38°C for both 250 and 750 cm of soil moisture suctions. The fluctuating root temperature, for 250 cm of soil moisture suction only, of 30–35, 30–39, 30–40, 30–45 and 30–48°C were maintained to simulate the soil temperature regime under field conditions. The constant root temperature of 35°C and fluctuating temperature between 30–40°C significantly decreased the shoot and root growth and transpiration rate. On the average, there was 1.3 and 0.7 g decrease in fresh shoot weight and 0.36 and 0.30 g in fresh root weight per degree increase in root temperature for 250 and 750 soil moisture suction, respectively. In general, the effect of high soil moisture suction on maize seedlings was more severe when at high root temperature. The shoot and root concentration of N, P, and K decreased while that of B increased with increase in root temperature. The root concentration of Zn also decreased with increase in root temperature.     

Soil temperature and flooding effects on two species of citrus

Summary Rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri Lush.) and sour orange (C. aurantium L.) seedlings were grown at constant soil temperatures of 16, 24, and 33 C for 3 months. Shoot and root growth of rough lemon was greatest at 33 C while growth of sour orange was greatest at 24 C. There were no significant effects of soil temperature on shoot: root ratio, leaf water potential or stomatal conductance. The hydraulic conductivity of intact root systems of both species was highest when seedlings were grown at 16 C. Thus, acclimation through greater root conductivity at low soil temperature may have compensated for decreased root growth at 16 C and negated effects of soil temperature on plant water relations. Half the plants growing at each soil temperature were subsequently flooded. Within 1 week, the soil redox potential (Eh) dropped below zero mV, reaching a minimum Eh of –250mV after 3 weeks of flooded conditions. Flooded plants exhibited lower root conductivity, a cessation of shoot growth, lower leaf water potentials, lower stomatal conductances, and visual sloughing of fibrous roots. Decreases in root conductivity in response to flooding were large enough to account for the observed decreases in stomatal conductance.Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Journal Series No. 4080.     

A comparison of plant hydraulic conductances in wheat and lupins

Previous studies have shown similar water use for lupins (Lupinusangustifolius L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), despitea considerably smaller root system in lupins. A field studyand an experiment under controlled conditions using pressure-fluxrelationships were conducted to examine whether higher hydraulicconductances were responsible for the greater water uptake perunit root length in lupins. In the field experiment, the fluxof water and differences in water potential through the soil-plantsystem were measured for both species and used to calculatethe hydraulic conductance through the plant and through theroot and shoot. The hydraulic conductance for the whole plantwas 3–5 times greater in lupins than in wheat. This relativedifference between the species was similar when plant hydraulicconductance was expressed per unit of root length. This occurreddespite the difference in midday water potential between soiland leaves, being consistently greater in wheat (–1.0MPa) than in lupins (–0.7 MPa). When the total plant conductancewas separated into its components, the combined soil and rootconductance and the shoot conductance were 2 and 6 times greater,respectively, in lupins than in wheat. In the experiment undercontrolled conditions, hydraulic conductance for the entireroot system was determined using a pressure chamber. The specificroot hydraulic conductances were 4 times greater in lupins thanin wheat. The results from both field and controlled conditionsexperiments suggest that the greater water uptake per unit rootlength in lupins compared to wheat results from appreciablylarger root and shoot hydraulic conductances. Key words: Lupins, wheat, hydraulic conductances, water, uptake, pressure-flux     

Effect of air and soil temperature on water balance of jojoba growing under controlled conditions

Jojoba [ Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider] cuttings were grown in pots under constant light intensity and vapour pressure deficit at wir temperatures of 18 and 27°C in climate-controlled cabinets. Leaf conductance and transpiration rate decreased exponentially as the xylen water potential (Ψ_x) decreased concurrently with the drying out of the soil. At high Ψ_x'leaf conductance and transpiration rate were much higher at the higher air temperature, and as Ψ_x declined both parameters decreased more rapidly at 27°C than at 18°C. When soil temperatures were decreased from 27 to 13°C, leaf water potential was not affected at either air temperatures, but transpiration rate was reduced. A linear negative correlation was found between transpiration rates and soil temperatures. It is suggested that the low soil temperature may restrict reducion of water flux in turn reduces stomatal conductance and transpiration without affecting the water potential in the shoot. The releavance of the response to changes in soil or air temperature to the performance of the plant in its semi-arid habitat is discussed.     

Physiological Responses of Apple Trees to Supraoptimal Root Temperature

Ungrafted apple rootstocks were grown in sand cultures at constant root temperatures between 20°C to 40°C. Temperatures of 30°C and above reduced root and shoot growth. Serious damage to the leaves occurred at 35°C and above. The O₂ consumption, CO₂ evolution and respiratory quotient (RQ) of the roots showed maximum values at 35°C. Different rootstock cultivars varied greatly in their susceptibility to damage by supraoptimal root temperatures apparently due to anaerobic respiration. The more susceptible ones differed from resistant types in the larger amount of ethanol they accumulated in their roots at supraoptimal root temperature, and the more severe reduction in the malic acid content of the roots at such temperature. Acetaldehyde was also found in roots and leaves at supraoptimal root temperatures, whereas the organic acid content of the leaves tended to decrease. Supraoptimal root temperature also caused a reduction of cytokinins in both roots and leaves accompanied by a reduction in the leaf chlorophyll content. This could be prevented by the application of kinetin or benzyladenine to the leaves. In a short experiment a rise in root temperature up to 40°C caused an increase in transpiration and a decrease in the resistance of the leaves to the passage of water vapor, whereas in prolonged experiments transpiration reached a maximum and leaf resistance a minimum at 30°C. The leaf water potential increased also with increasing root temperature. Leaf temperature increased with increasing root temperature, irrespective of increasing or decreasing transpiration rates.     

An assessment of the role of ethylene in mediating lettuce (Lactuca sativa) root growth at high temperatures

Growth of temperate lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plants aeroponically in tropical greenhouses under ambient root-zone temperatures (A-RZTs) exposes roots to temperatures of up to 40 degrees C during the middle of the day, and severely limits root and shoot growth. The role of ethylene in inhibiting growth was investigated with just-germinated (24-h-old) seedlings in vitro, and 10-d-old plants grown aeroponically. Compared with seedlings maintained at 20 degrees C, root elongation in vitro was inhibited by 39% and root diameter increased by 25% under a temperature regime (38 degrees C/24 degrees C for 7 h/17 h) that simulated A-RZT in the greenhouse. The effects on root elongation were partially alleviated by supplying the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitors aminooxyacetic acid (100-500 microM) or aminoisobutyric acid (5-100 microM) to the seedlings. Application of the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid to seedlings grown at 20 degrees C mimicked the high temperature effects on root elongation (1 microM) and root diameter (1 mM). Compared with plants grown at a constant 20 degrees C root-zone temperature, A-RZT plants showed decreased stomatal conductance, leaf relative water content, photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation, shoot and root biomass, total root length, the number of root tips, and root surface area, but increased average root diameter. Addition of 10 microM ACC to the nutrient solution of plants grown at a constant 20 degrees C root-zone temperature mimicked the effects of A-RZT on these parameters but did not influence relative water content. Addition of 30 microM aminoisobutyric acid or 100 microM aminooxyacetic acid to the nutrient solution of A-RZT plants increased stomatal conductance and relative water content and decreased average root diameter, but had no effect on other root parameters or root and shoot biomass or photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation. Although ethylene is important in regulating root morphology and elongation at A-RZT, the failure of ethylene biosynthesis inhibitors to influence shoot carbon gain limits their use in ameliorating the growth inhibition induced by A-RZT.     

Effects of soil temperature on root and shoot growth traits and iron deficiency chlorosis in sorghum genotypes grown on a low iron calcareous soil

Iron deficiency chlorosis (FeDC) is a common disorder for sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] grown on alkaline calcareous soils. Four sorghum genotypes were grown in growth chambers on a low Fe (1.3 g/g DTPA-extractable), alkaline (pH 8.0), calcareous (3.87% CaCO₃ equivalent) Aridic Haplustoll to determine effects of different soil temperatures (12, 17, 22 and 27°C at a constant 27°C air temperature) on various root and shoot growth traits and development of FeDC. As soil temperature increased, leaf chlorosis became more severe, and shoot and root dry weights, root lengths, and leaf areas increased markedly. Shoot/root ratios, shoot weight/root length, leaf area/shoot weight and leaf area/root weight and root length also increased while root length/root weight decreased as soil temperature increased. Severe FeDC developed in all genotypes even though genotypes had previously shown different degrees of resistance to FeDC. Genotypes differed in most growth traits, especially dry matter yields, root lengths, and leaf areas, but most traits did not appear to be related to genotype resistance to FeDC. The most FeDC resistant genotype had the slowest growth rate and this may be a mechanism for its greater resistance to FeDC.     

Resistance to Water Transport in Shoots of Vitis vinifera L. : Relation to Growth at Low Water Potential

Apparent resistances to water transport in the liquid phase were determined from measurements of soil, root, basal shoot internode, shoot apex, and leaf water potentials and water flux in Vitis vinifera (cv White Riesling) during soil drying. Predawn water potential differences (ΔΨ) in the shoots accounted for 20% of the total ΔΨ between the soil and the shoot apex when plants were well-watered but increased to about 90% when shoot growth ceased. The ΔΨ from soil to root was essentially constant during this period. At low water potential, the ΔΨ in the shoot was persistent when transpiration was low (predawn) or completely prevented (plant bagging). The apparent hydraulic resistance between the basal shoot internode and most rapidly expanding leaf (or shoot apex) increased several-fold when water was withheld. Leaf and internode expansion both exhibited high sensitivity to increasing hydraulic resistance. Measurements of pneumatic resistance to air flow through frozen internode segments indicated progressive vapor-filling of vessels as soil drying progressed. From these observations and others in the literature, it was suggested that embolization may be a common occurrence and play an important role in the inhibition of shoot growth at moderate water deficits.     

Deficit and excess of soil water impact on plant growth of Lotus tenuis by affecting nutrient uptake and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

The impact of deficit and excess of soil water on plant growth, morphological plant features, N and P plant nutrition, soil properties, Rhizobium nodulation and the symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and Lotus tenuis Waldst. & Kit. were studied in a saline-sodic soil. Water excess treatment decreased root growth by 36% and increased shoot growth by 13% whereas water deficit treatment decreased both root and shoot growth (26 and 32%, respectively). Differences between stress conditions on shoot growth were due to the ability of L. tenuis to tolerate low oxygen concentration in the soil and the sufficiency of nutrients in soil to sustain shoot growth demands. Water excess treatment decreased pH, and increased available P and labile C in soil. Water deficit treatment decreased available P and also increased labile C. In general, N and P acquisition were affected more by water excess than water deficit. The number of nodules per gram of fresh roots only increased in water excess roots (97%). Under both stress conditions there was a significant proportion of roots colonized by AM fungi. Compared to control treatment, arbuscule formation decreased by 55 and 14% under water excess and water deficit, respectively. Vesicle formation increased 256% in water excess treatment and did not change under water deficit treatment. L. tenuis plants subjected to water deficit or excess treatments could grow, nodulated and maintained a symbiotic association with AM fungi by different strategies. Under water excess, L. tenuis plants decreased root growth and increased shoot growth to facilitate water elimination by transpiration. Under water deficit, L. tenuis plants decreased root growth but also shoot growth which in turn significant decreased the shoot/root ratio. In the present study, under water excess conditions AM fungi reduced nutrient transfer structures (arbuscules), the number of entry points and spore, and hyphal densities in soil, but increased resistance structures (vesicles). At water deficit, however, AM fungi reduced external hyphae and arbuscules to some extent, investing more in maintaining a similar proportion of vesicles in roots and spores in soil compared to control treatment.     

Interactive effects of soil temperature, atmospheric carbon dioxide and soil N on root development, biomass and nutrient uptake of winter wheat during vegetative growth

Nutrient requirements for plant growth are expected to rise in response to the predicted changes in CO(2) and temperature. In this context, little attention has been paid to the effects of soil temperature, which limits plant growth at early stages in temperate regions. A factorial growth-room experiment was conducted with winter wheat, varying soil temperature (10 degrees C and 15 degrees C), atmospheric CO(2) concentration (360 and 700 ppm), and N supply (low and high). The hypothesis was that soil temperature would modify root development, biomass allocation and nutrient uptake during vegetative growth and that its effects would interact with atmospheric CO(2) and N availability. Soil temperature effects were confirmed for most of the variables measured and 3-factor interactions were observed for root development, plant biomass components, N-use efficiency, and shoot P content. Importantly, the soil temperature effects were manifest in the absence of any change in air temperature. Changes in root development, nutrient uptake and nutrient-use efficiencies were interpreted as counterbalancing mechanisms for meeting nutrient requirements for plant growth in each situation. Most variables responded to an increase in resource availability in the order: N supply >soil temperature >CO(2).     

The influence of soil drought and partial waterlogging on water relations of Gmelina arborea seedlings

Summary Stomatal conductance of unstrossed, soil drought, and previously drought (predrought) Gmelina arborea seedlings increased in the morning and decreased before or immediately after midday. In the unstressed and predrought seedlings, leaf water potential decreased with increases in transpiration. In soil drought seedlings, there was some evidence of decreased hydraulic conductivity from soil to the plant, as indicated by the shape in the slope of the water potential/transpiration relationship. Root growth of drought plants was greater than in their unstressed counterparts at the lowest soil segment of a pot. The partial recovery of predrought seedlings was attributed to this subtantial root growth in the lowest soil segment.In the second experiment, Gmelina arborea seedlings were partially waterlogged, by flooding the polyethylene bag to half its length, for a period of 23 days. Waterlogging induced stomatal closure and reduction in leaf water potential but there was some evidence of tolerance to waterlogging towards the end of treatment. Root growth, shoot and root dry weights were slightly reduced below those of controls. After 9 days of waterlogging, adventitious roots began to form which correlated with depletion of soluble sugars in the shoot but with an increase in the roots.It is suggested that the tolerance of Gmelina plants to either soil drought or waterlogging may partly be due to partitioning of the soluble sugars from shoot to roots for production of roots and formation of adventitious roots respectively which are likely to enhance the flow of water from the soils to the plant. Therefore the plant response is very similar under conditions of increased deficits and surplus of soil water.     

Root cooling strongly affects diel leaf growth dynamics,water and carbohydrate relations in Ricinus communis

In laboratory and greenhouse experiments with potted plants, shoots and roots are exposed to temperature regimes throughout a 24 h (diel) cycle that can differ strongly from the regime under which these plants have evolved. In the field, roots are often exposed to lower temperatures than shoots. When the root‐zone temperature in Ricinus communis was decreased below a threshold value, leaf growth occurred preferentially at night and was strongly inhibited during the day. Overall, leaf expansion, shoot biomass growth, root elongation and ramification decreased rapidly, carbon fluxes from shoot to root were diminished and carbohydrate contents of both root and shoot increased. Further, transpiration rate was not affected, yet hydrostatic tensions in shoot xylem increased. When root temperature was increased again, xylem tension reduced, leaf growth recovered rapidly, carbon fluxes from shoot to root increased, and carbohydrate pools were depleted. We hypothesize that the decreased uptake of water in cool roots diminishes the growth potential of the entire plant – especially diurnally, when the growing leaf loses water via transpiration. As a consequence, leaf growth and metabolite concentrations can vary enormously, depending on root‐zone temperature and its heterogeneity inside pots.     

Understanding plant rooting patterns in semi‐arid systems: an integrated model analysis of climate,soil type and plant biomass

Aim A consistent set of root characteristics for herbaceous plants growing in water‐limited environments has been developed based on compilations of global root databases, but an overall analysis of why these characteristics occur is still missing. The central question in this study is whether an ecohydrological model which assumes that rooting strategies reflect maximization of transpiration can predict the variations in rooting strategies of plants in dry environments. Location Arid ecosystems across the globe. Methods A model was used to explore interactions between plant biomass, root–shoot allocation, root distribution, rainfall, soil type and water use by plants. Results Model analyses showed that the predicted shifts in rooting depth and root–shoot allocation due to changes in rainfall, soil type and plant biomass were quite similar to observed shifts. The model predicted that soil type, annual rainfall and plant biomass each had strong effects on the rooting strategies that optimize transpiration, but also that these factors have strong interactive effects. The process by which plants compete for water availability (soil evaporation or drainage) especially affected the depth distribution of roots in the soil, whereas the availability of rainfall mainly affected the optimal root–shoot allocation strategy. Main conclusions The empirically observed key patterns in rooting characteristics of herbaceous plant species in arid environments could be explained in this theoretical study by using the concept of hydrological optimality, represented here by the maximization of transpiration.     

Lead (Pb)-Induced Regulation of Growth, Photosynthesis, and Mineral Nutrition in Maize (Zea mays L.) Plants at Early Growth Stages

The phytotoxic effects of lead (Pb) on seed germinability, seedling growth, photosynthetic performance, and nutrient accumulation (K(+) and Cu(2+)) in two maize genotypes (EV-1098 and EV-77) treated with varying levels of PbSO(4) (0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mg L(-1)) were appraised in this study. In the seed germination experiment, lead stress significantly reduced seed germination percentage and index, plumule and radicle lengths as well as fresh and dry weights in both genotypes. In the second experiment, lengths and fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots decreased due to Pb in both genotypes with increase in plant age. Higher Pb levels also decreased photosynthetic rate (A), water use efficiency (A/E), and intrinsic water use efficiency (A/g(s)), but increased transpiration rate (E) and C(i)/C(a) ratio as a result of increase in stomatal conductance (g(s)). The concentrations of K(+) and Cu(2+) decreased in root, stem, and leaves of both genotypes, which could be a direct consequence of multifold increase in Pb concentration in these tissues. Overall, cv. EV-1098 had better Pb tolerance potential than EV-77 because the former genotype showed less reduction in seed germinability parameters, photosynthetic performance, and K(+) and Cu(2+) accumulation in shoot and root under lead stress.     

Effect of temperature on drought resistance and growth of cotton plants

In cotton plants ( Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. B.J.A.) the temperature of the roots affected both root and shoot growth, as did the temperature of the shoot. Drought resistance increased when the temperature imposed on roots (27°C) was lower than that imposed on shoots (17°C); the result was a decrease in both transpiration and flow of root sap. Stomatal characteristics as measured by density, index and resistance, depended only on shoot temperature. Differences in drought resistance, depended only on shoot temperature. Differences in drought resistance seem to be a result of changes in transpiration flow modulated by the amount of absorbed water.     

土壤水分亏缺对春小麦根系干物质累积和分配的影响

在人工气候室中进行实验,实施光、温自动控制,研究了土壤水分对春小麦根系干物质积累和分配的影响,３个处理是春小科整个生长发育期内土壤水分分别控制在田间持水量的３０％,６０％,９０％,实验结果表明,在四叶一心－抽穗开花期间,３个处理气孔阻力逐渐降低,光合速率蒸腾速度逐渐上升,其中,中等水分条件下蒸腾速率明显低于充分供水,而光合速率则接近或显著高于是。抽一开花期,下层以根长,根竽中等水分处理显著高于其余     

Water deficit and plant competition effects on growth and water-use efficiency of white clover ( Trifolium repens,L.) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne,L.)

The combined effects of soil water deficit and above and below ground interspecific plant competition on the growth, water-use efficiency (WUE), and measured carbon isotopic composition (δ¹³C) values of white clover and ryegrass were studied. White clover and ryegrass were grown in specially designed crates 1) individually; 2) in shoot competition; or 3) in shoot + root competition and either well-watered or at a moderate or severe soil water deficit. The effects of shoot + root competition on shoot dry matter growth were substantial and benefited both white clover and ryegrass when well-watered or at a moderate soil water deficit, while severely reducing white clover shoot dry matter growth at severe soil water deficit. Plant competition did not affect the WUE of white clover or ryegrass. As soil water deficit increased, the WUE of white clover did not change whereas the WUE of ryegrass increased and was greater than that of white clover. This was attributed to the lower leaf water conductance of ryegrass which conserved water and maintained growth longer compared to white clover. A stronger correlation existed between soil water deficit and measured δ¹³C values for ryegrass at each plant competition level (P<0.001) than existed for white clover (individual: P<0.01; shoot + root: P<0.001; shoot: P<0.10). Unlike white clover, the relationship between measured δ¹³C values and shoot dry matter growth indicated that C assimilation for ryegrass was dependent on type of plant competition. That WUE remained constant for white clover while measured δ¹³C values increased as soil water deficit increased, suggests that the role below ground respiration rate played in determining δ¹³C values increased. The WUE of white clover appears to be independent of the nature of the competition between plants and the soil water deficit level at which it is grown, whereas for ryegrass, the addition of root competition to shoot competition should lead to increases in its WUE. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Interactive effects of soil temperature and moisture on Concord grape root respiration

Root respiration has important implications for understanding plant growth as well as terrestrial carbon flux with a changing climate. Although soil temperature and soil moisture often interact, rarely have these interactions on root respiration been studied. This report is on the individual and combined effects of soil moisture and temperature on respiratory responses of single branch roots of 1-year-old Concord grape (Vitis labruscana Bailey) vines grown in a greenhouse. Under moist soil conditions, root respiration increased exponentially to short-term (1 h) increases in temperature between 10 degrees C and 33 degrees C. Negligible increases in root respiration occurred between 33 degrees C and 38 degrees C. By contrast to a slowly decreasing Q10 from short-term temperature increases, when roots were exposed to constant temperatures for 3 d, the respiratory Q10 between 10 degrees C and 30 degrees C diminished steeply with an increase in temperature. Above 30 degrees C, respiration declined with an increase in temperature. Membrane leakage was 89-98% higher and nitrogen concentration was about 18% lower for roots exposed to 35 degrees C for 3 d than for those exposed to 25 degrees C and 15 degrees C. There was a strong interaction of respiration with a combination of elevated temperature and soil drying. At low soil temperatures (10 degrees C), respiration was little influenced by soil drying, while at moderate to high temperatures (20 degrees C and 30 degrees C), respiration exhibited rapid declines with decreases in soil moisture. Roots exposed to drying soil also exhibited increased membrane leakage and reduced N. These findings of acclimation of root respiration are important to modelling respiration under different moisture and temperature regimes.     

Soil and plant water relations determine photosynthetic responses of C3 and C4 grasses in a semi-arid ecosystem under elevated CO2

To model the effect of increasing atmospheric CO2 on semi-arid grasslands, the gas exchange responses of leaves to seasonal changes in soil water, and how they are modified by CO2, must be understood for C3 and C4 species that grow in the same area. In this study, open-top chambers were used to investigate the photosynthetic and stomatal responses of Pascopyrum smithii (C3) and Bouteloua gracilis (C4) grown at 360 (ambient CO2) and 720 micro mol mol-1 CO2 (elevated CO2) in a semi-arid shortgrass steppe. Assimilation rate (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) at the treatment CO2 concentrations and at a range of intercellular CO2 concentrations and leaf water potentials (psileaf) were measured over 4 years with variable soil water content caused by season and CO2 treatment. Carboxylation efficiency of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Vc,max), and ribulose bisphosphate regeneration capacity (Jmax) were reduced in P. smithii grown in elevated CO2, to the degree that A was similar in elevated and ambient CO2 (when soil moisture was adequate). Photosynthetic capacity was not reduced in B. gracilis under elevated CO2, but A was nearly saturated at ambient CO2. There were no stomatal adaptations independent of photosynthetic acclimation. Although photosynthetic capacity was reduced in P. smithii growing in elevated CO2, reduced gs and transpiration improved soil water content and psileaf in the elevated CO2 chambers, thereby improving A of both species during dry periods. These results suggest that photosynthetic responses of C3 and C4 grasses in this semi-arid ecosystem will be driven primarily by the effect of elevated CO2 on plant and soil water relations.     

Root contraction helps protect the "living rock" cactus Ariocarpus fissuratus from lethal high temperatures when growing in rocky soil

? Premise of the study: We investigated how the "living rock" cactus Ariocarpus fissuratus, like other low-growing desert plants, can endure potentially lethal high temperatures at the soil surface. Specifically, we examined how shoot descent by root contraction in the presence or absence of soil rocks influences shoot temperatures and transpiration. ? Methods: Root contraction was identified by measuring shoot descent and anatomical analysis. Temperatures and transpiration were measured for plants at two heights in sandy and rocky soil, and temperature tolerances were determined by vital staining. ? Key results: Plants embedded in rocky soil survived an extreme heat episode, unlike plants in sandy soil, though rocks did not moderate low temperatures. Root contraction occurred regardless of season and soil moisture. Xylem conduits (wide-band tracheids) formed a compressible lattice that decreased root length as rays enlarged the root base radially. Plant position in the soil did not affect transpiration. ? Conclusions: Contractile roots pulled plants of A. fissuratus into the soil at rates of 6-30 mm yr(-1). Maintaining shoots level with the soil surface kept plant temperatures below the high lethal temperature and improved survivorship in soil shaded by surface rocks.