Structures and functions of adventitious roots in species of the genus Philodendron Schott (Araceae)

We discuss here the anatomical variations of the arrangements and compositions of stele types observed in different roots types in four populations of the three species of Philodendron as probable adaptations to their habitats. Terrestrial individuals of P. corcovadense have cylindrical steles while rupicolous individuals have lobate steles with dispersed internal cortical parenchyma. The Philodendron species sampled showed polyarch structures. The crampon roots of P. oblongum and anchor roots of P. cordatum show medullated protosteles, with the former species having a reduced pith with sclerified parenchyma cells while the latter has a wide pith and parenchyma cells with only slightly thickened walls. The feeder roots of P. cordatum also show a medullated protostele—although a central vessel is present until approximately 60 cm from the apex that later disappears, forming a parenchymatous pith. We conclude that the different root types reflect adaptations of the subgenera Philodendron and Meconostigma to their different habits and habitats, such as in P. corcovadense, where the roots of rupicolous individuals have lobate steles while the roots of the terrestrial plants have cylindrical steles.     

Comparative anatomy of the vegetative organs in Pleiochiton A. Gray (Melastomataceae), with emphasis on adaptations to epiphytism

We present a comparative analysis on the anatomy of roots, shoots, and leaves of three epiphytic Pleiochiton species and a species of the closely related Clidemia. The four species share similar anatomical characters, suggesting adaptations toward water storage in all the structures and, consequently, to the water-limited epiphytic habitat. All four species present succulent roots with up to 75% of its volume with cells that store water. The leaves have about 50% of the volume formed by a hypodermis that also stores water. They are very similar to leaves of epiphytic Peperomia and Gesneriaceae, suggesting evolutionary convergence. Leaf cells in all species have large vacuoles and compact mesophyll, with little intercellular spaces; all these traits are usually related to CAM photosynthesis. The anatomical features found in all four species agree with previous phylogenetic analyses that show Clidemia blepharodes, Pleiochiton ebracteatum and Pleiochiton micranthum as members of a same clade.     

Competition between the Plant-parasitic Nematodes Pratylenchus neglectus and Meloidogyne chitwoodi

In experiments on competition between Pratylenchus neglectus and Meloidogyne chitwoodi in barley, the species that parasitized the roots first inhibited penetration by the latter species. Prior presence of P. neglectus impeded the development of M. chitwoodi. Pratylenchus neglectus reduced egg production, final population levels, and reproductive index of M. chitwoodi. The reduction was linearly related to initial population densities of P. neglectus. Initial population densities of M. chitwoodi had no effect on final population levels of P. neglectus. Carbon assimilation by barley plants was reduced when either nematode species was present alone, but not when both were present together. Both nematode species assimilated lower amounts of carbon when present together than when present alone. A split-root experiment demonstrated that translocatable chemicals were not involved in the competition between the two species.     

Aucubinartige glucoside als systematische merkmale bei labiaten — II. Galeopsis

All species of Galeopsis contain aucubin-like glycosides in roots, leaves and seeds. Acetylharpagide is typical of leaves of the species of the subgenus Ladanum and galiridoside characterizes leaves of taxa of the subgenus Tetrahit. However, the leaves of Galeopsis pubescens, G. segetum and G. pyrenaica contain appreciable amounts of both constituents. In roots and seeds, the difference between the two subgenera is less striking. However, roots of species of subgenus Tetrahit are characterized by a third constituent, called bifida-substance. Some chemical characters of Galeopsis are discussed and evaluated systematically. Galeopsis resembles Lamiastrum in leaf aucubinoids.     

Positive effects of night warming on physiology of coniferous trees in late growing season: Leaf and root

Previous studies about the effects of experimental warming on tree species have focused primarily on response of morphology and physiology in leaf and biomass allocation in the growing season, and a few studies considered the importance of roots. Based on the available evidence, it is unclear whether photosynthesis rate is enhanced by night warming in late autumn an issue that deserves further investigation. Thus, we exposed two coniferous species, Picea asperata and Abies faxoniana, to night warming continued throughout the year to investigate morphological and physiological responses of roots and leaves in the autumn. The results showed that night warming caused significant increases in net influxes of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ in P. asperata seedlings corresponding well with net H⁺ efflux and net influx of O₂. Meanwhile, night warming had a positive effect on foliar gas exchange such as net photosynthesis rate, apparent quantum efficiency, dark respiration rate and maximum quantum efficiency of PS II, and nitrate reductase activity of roots. Additionally, root morphology such as total roots length, surface area, specific root area and specific root length was also stimulated by night warming. In contrast, night warming decreased concentrations of non-structural carbohydrate in leaves and roots of both species in autumn. The present study demonstrates that night warming would enhance late autumn leaf photosynthetic rate, and increase N uptake capacity of roots.     

Effects of anoxia and flooding on alcohol dehydrogenase in roots of Glyceria maxima and Pisum sativum

Flood tolerant Glyceria maxima and intolerant Pisum sativum were compared in respect of the effects of anoxia and flooding on the maximum catalytic activities of alcohol dehydrogenase in their roots. Small (<73%) increases in enzyme activity occurred when excised roots of both species were incubated in nitrogen for up to 2 days. Further incubation in nitrogen rapidly and permanently damaged the roots of both species. Enzyme activity in flooded roots of Glyceria was about double that in corresponding non-flooded roots. A marginally greater difference was found for roots of Pisum. It was concluded that the two species respond so similarly to the above treatments that variation in the extent of induction of alcohol dehydrogenase is unlikely to be a significant factor in determining their ability to tolerate flooding.     

Rhizosphere disturbance influences fungal colonization and community development on dead fine roots

Little is known about the community dynamics of fungi on decomposing fine roots, despite the importance of fine roots as a source of carbon to detrital systems in forests. We examined fungal communities on dead roots in a sugar-maple dominated northern hardwood forest to test the hypothesis that community development is sensitive to rhizosphere disruption. We generated cohorts of dead fine roots in root windows and disturbed the rhizosphere microbial community in half of the windows by moving roots into sieved bulk soil. We sampled root fragments repeatedly over time and cultured fungi from these fragments to explore temporal patterns of fungal species composition. Disturbing the root rhizosphere prior to initiating decomposition changed the dominant fungal taxa, the distribution of dominant species within the community, and the temporal development in the culturable fungal community. Dominance in control roots shifted from Neonectria in early decay to Umbelopsis in later decay. Disturbance roots were more evenly dominated over time by Trichoderma, Neonectria, another species of Umbelopsis, and Pochonia. Our results suggest that species interactions are important in the ecology of fine root decay fungi, with the rhizosphere community of the living root influencing development of the decay community.     

Interactive effects of soil nutrient heterogeneity and belowground herbivory on the growth of plants with different root foraging traits

Aims

Plants with precise root foraging patterns can proliferate roots preferentially in nutrient-rich soil patches. When nutrients are distributed heterogeneously, this trait is often competitively advantageous in pot experiments but not field experiments. We hypothesized that this difference is due to belowground herbivory under field conditions.

Methods

We performed pot experiments using seedlings of Lolium perenne (a more precise root foraging species) and Plantago lanceolata (a less precise root foraging species). The experiment had a two-way factorial randomized block design, with nutrient distribution pattern (homogeneous or heterogeneous) and belowground herbivore (present or absent) as the two factors. Each pot contained one seedling of each species.

Results

With no herbivore present, plant biomass was smaller in the heterogeneous nutrient treatment than in the homogeneous treatment in P. lanceolata, but not in L. perenne. Under homogeneous nutrient distribution, plant biomass was lower in both species with a herbivore present than with no herbivore. Under heterogeneous nutrient distribution, biomass reduction due to herbivory occurred only in L. perenne.

Conclusions

Roots of the precise root foraging species were grazed more under the heterogeneous nutrient distribution, suggesting that the herbivore more efficiently foraged for roots in nutrient-rich soil patches.     

Detection of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in the roots of plants in alpine meadows by nested-touchdown polymerase chain reaction

Ophiocordyceps sinensis, one of the most important income sources of rural Tibetan families, is an entomopathogenic fungus that parasitizes the ghost moth Thitarodes larvae, which live in alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau and in the Himalayas. The annual yield of O. sinensis has gradually declined in recent years. However, there is no effective method to sustain or increase the yield of O. sinensis artificially because the life cycle of the O. sinensis anamorph remains unclear. Here we detected O. sinensis in alpine plant roots by nested-touchdown polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Forty-two alpine plant species were screened. The roots from 23 alpine plant species (54.76 %) tested positive including 13 families and 18 genera. The detection results indicate that O. sinensis is present in the plant roots during the anamorph life cycle, to deal with harsh conditions in alpine habitats and have an increased opportunity to infect the larvae. The finding provides new information regarding the biology and ecology of O. sinensis that may be used to sustain this valuable resource.     

Cutting out the middle clam: lucinid endosymbiotic bacteria are also associated with seagrass roots worldwide

Seagrasses and lucinid bivalves inhabit highly reduced sediments with elevated sulphide concentrations. Lucinids house symbiotic bacteria (Ca. Thiodiazotropha) capable of oxidising sediment sulphide, and their presence in sediments has been proposed to promote seagrass growth by decreasing otherwise phytotoxic sulphide levels. However, vast and productive seagrass meadows are present in ecosystems where lucinids do not occur. Hence, we hypothesised that seagrasses themselves host these sulphur-oxidising Ca. Thiodiazotropha that could aid their survival when lucinids are absent. We analysed newly generated and publicly available 16S rRNA gene sequences from seagrass roots and sediments across 14 seagrass species and 10 countries and found that persistent and colonising seagrasses across the world harbour sulphur-oxidising Ca. Thiodiazotropha, regardless of the presence of lucinids. We used fluorescence in situ hybridisation to visually confirm the presence of Ca. Thiodiazotropha on roots of Halophila ovalis, a colonising seagrass species with wide geographical, water depth range, and sedimentary sulphide concentrations. We provide the first evidence that Ca. Thiodiazotropha are commonly present on seagrass roots, providing another mechanism for seagrasses to alleviate sulphide stress globally.Subject terms: Microbial ecology, Plant ecology, Soil microbiology     

The incidence of arbuscular mycorrhiza in two submerged Isoëtes species

We investigated the occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the roots of Isoëtes lacustris and I. echinospora. These submerged lycopsids are the only macrophyte species inhabiting the bottom of two acidified glacial lakes in the Czech Republic. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi were detected in the roots of both species but the percentage of root colonization was both low and variable. Nevertheless, planting Littorella uniflora in the sediments from Isoëtes rhizosphere revealed high levels of viable AM propagules in both lakes. While AM colonization of Isoëtes roots did not exceed 25%, the average colonization of Littorella roots amounted to more than 80%. Although colonization of quillwort roots by AM fungi is evident, the taxonomic identity and role of these AM fungi in plant growth remain unclear. In addition to AM fungi, root-colonizing dark septate endophytic fungi were observed in both Isoëtes species.     

Communities of Endophytic Sebacinales Associated with Roots of Herbaceous Plants in Agricultural and Grassland Ecosystems Are Dominated by Serendipita herbamans sp. nov

Endophytic fungi are known to be commonly associated with herbaceous plants, however, there are few studies focusing on their occurrence and distribution in plant roots from ecosystems with different land uses. To explore the phylogenetic diversity and community structure of Sebacinales endophytes from agricultural and grassland habitats under different land uses, we analysed the roots of herbaceous plants using strain isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and co-cultivation experiments. A new sebacinoid strain named Serendipita herbamans belonging to Sebacinales group B was isolated from the roots of Bistorta vivipara, which is characterized by colourless monilioid cells (chlamydospores) that become yellow with age. This species was very common and widely distributed in association with a broad spectrum of herbaceous plant families in diverse habitats, independent of land use type. Ultrastructurally, the presence of S. herbamans was detected in the cortical cells of Plantago media, Potentilla anserina and Triticum aestivum. In addition, 13 few frequent molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) or species were found across agricultural and grassland habitats, which did not exhibit a distinctive phylogenetic structure. Laboratory-based assays indicate that S. herbamans has the ability to colonize fine roots and stimulate plant growth. Although endophytic Sebacinales are widely distributed across agricultural and grassland habitats, TEM and nested PCR analyses reinforce the observation that these microorganisms are present in low quantity in plant roots, with no evidence of host specificity.     

Rhizobial infection in Adesmia bicolor (Fabaceae) roots

The native legume Adesmia bicolor shows nitrogen fixation efficiency via symbiosis with soil rhizobia. The infection mechanism by means of which rhizobia infect their roots has not been fully elucidated to date. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to identify the infection mechanism in Adesmia bicolor roots. To this end, inoculated roots were processed following conventional methods as part of our root anatomy study, and the shape and distribution of root nodules were analyzed as well. Neither root hairs nor infection threads were observed in the root system, whereas infection sites—later forming nodules—were observed in the longitudinal sections. Nodules were found to form between the main root and the lateral roots. It can be concluded that in Adesmia bicolor, a bacterial crack entry infection mechanism prevails and that such mechanism could be an adaptive strategy of this species which is typical of arid environments.     

Etude comparee des lipides et de la fixation passive du calcium dans les racines et les fractions subcellulaires du Lupinus luteus et de la Vicia faba

In both lupin and broad bean, the root lipids contain paraffins, triglycerides, diglycerides, free fatty acids and polar lipids (phospholipids and galactolipids). The polar lipids and the triglycerides are the more abundant classes. The root galactolipids are mono- and di-galactosyldiglycerides; two steryl glycosides are also present. The phospholipids in both species are: phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidic acid. This last phospholipid represents 8·3% of total lipid phosphorus in Lupinus against 2·3% in Vicia. The other acidic phospholipids represent 30·4% in Lupinus against 20·9% in Vicia. The lipids of Lupinus are rich in linolenic acid whereas those found in Vicia are richer in linoleic acid. The various subcellular fractions prepared from the roots of both species have an homogeneous lipid composition, reflecting exactly that of entire cells. The calcium passive fixation capacity in microsomes and mitochondria of Lupinus roots is more important than that in the same organelles of Vicia faba roots. Thus a relationship is suggested between the amount of phospholipids in membranes and the passive fixation of calcium.     

Lipids in hairy roots and non-Agrobacterium induced roots of Crambe abyssinica

Hairy root cultures of Crambe abyssinica were obtained through infection of leaves with two wild-type agropine strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes. The efficiency of transformation was about 16 %. The presence of T-DNA from A. rhizogenes in the hairy roots genome was confirmed by PCR using specific primers for rolB and rolC genes. Selected clones of hairy roots and non-Agrobacterium induced roots from sterile cultures were used for analyses of acyl-lipids. The total amount of acyl-lipids per mg of dry weight was similar in both the non-Agrobacterium induced roots and the hairy roots in good physiological condition, and ranged from 38 to 53 nmol. However, in the clones which showed symptoms of ageing, the lipid content was severely reduced. Also the lipid composition of hairy roots appears to be similar to the composition of non-transformed roots. Polar lipids were the dominant class of lipids in both types of roots (about 75 %). Furthermore, we found diacylglycerols, free fatty acids (FFA), triacylglycerols, sterol esters, and an unidentified lipid class. The dominant fatty acids in the lipids of both types of roots were α-linolenic acid, palmitic acid, and linoleic acid (over 12 % of total FA). Among the lipids of both hairy roots and non-Agrobacterium induced roots of C. abyssinica, an unidentified FA was found (over 16 % of total FAs). The present study is the first example of establishment of hairy roots cultures of C. abyssinica. It also includes the first analysis of the lipids in hairy roots and non-Agrobacterium induced roots of this species.     

Iron-Oxidizing Bacteria Are Associated with Ferric Hydroxide Precipitates (Fe-Plaque) on the Roots of Wetland Plants

The presence of Fe-oxidizing bacteria in the rhizosphere of four different species of wetland plants was investigated in a diverse wetland environment that had Fe(II) concentrations ranging from tens to hundreds of micromoles per liter and a pH range of 3.5 to 6.8. Enrichments for neutrophilic, putatively lithotrophic Fe-oxidizing bacteria were successful on roots from all four species; acidophilic Fe-oxidizing bacteria were enriched only on roots from plants whose root systems were exposed to soil solutions with a pH of <4. In Sagittaria australis there was a positive correlation (P < 0.01) between cell numbers and the total amount of Fe present; the same correlation was not found for Leersia oryzoides. These results present the first evidence for culturable Fe-oxidizing bacteria associated with Fe-plaque in the rhizosphere.     

Endoparasitic Nematodes in Maize Roots in the Western Transvaal as Related to Soil Texture and Rainfall

Eight endoparasitic nematode species were recovered from 170 maize root samples in western Transvaal, Republic of South Africa. Pratylenchus zeae had the highest average population density (17,454/5 g roots), followed by P. neglectus (5,827/5 g roots), P. penetrans (5,617/5 g roots), P. brachyurus (3,060/5 g roots), Meloidogyne incognita plus M. javanica (301 juveniles/5 g roots), P. crenatus (130/5 g roots), and Rotylenchutus parvus (64/5 g roots). The 17 reasonably homogeneous farming areas (RHFA) surveyed could be ranked on the basis of the incidence of the prevalent nematode species. A positive relationship was found between the incidence of P. brachyurus and R. parvus and long-term average annual rainfall. The incidence of P. penetrans and the Meloidogyne spp. was positively related to a combination of sand percentage and long-term average annual rainfall.     

The potential of the decay fungus Chondrostereum purpureum in the biocontrol of broadleaved tree species

The ability of the decay fungus Chondrostereum purpureum to grow within birch (Betula pendula and Betula pubescens), aspen (Populus tremula), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and willow (Salix caprea) stumps or root systems is unknown, although such information would be crucial in understanding its impact on the vegetative growth of broadleaved trees, their ecology and potential biocontrol. Saplings of these tree species were cut and inoculated with the fungus. After 3 months, 47, 14, 0 and 0% of birch, aspen, rowan and willow stumps, respectively, were dead, and C. purpureum was frequently present within the stumps of all species. In more than half of the birch stumps investigated, the fungus had penetrated into the roots unlike in the other tree species. Our results indicate that C. purpureum can utilize the woody material of birch better than that of other species, and that penetration into the roots is needed to kill the host.     

Variation of the Linkage of Root Function with Root Branch Order

Mounting evidence has shown strong linkage of root function with root branch order. However, it is not known whether this linkage is consistent in different species. Here, root anatomic traits of the first five branch order were examined in five species differing in plant phylogeny and growth form in tropical and subtropical forests of south China. In Paramichelia baillonii, one tree species in Magnoliaceae, the intact cortex as well as mycorrhizal colonization existed even in the fifth-order root suggesting the preservation of absorption function in the higher-order roots. In contrast, dramatic decreases of cortex thickness and mycorrhizal colonization were observed from lower- to higher-order roots in three other tree species, Cunninghamia lanceolata, Acacia auriculiformis and Gordonia axillaries, which indicate the loss of absorption function. In a fern, Dicranopteris dichotoma, there were several cortex layers with prominently thickened cell wall and no mycorrhizal colonization in the third- and fourth-order roots, also demonstrating the loss of absorptive function in higher-order roots. Cluster analysis using these anatomic traits showed a different classification of root branch order in P. baillonii from other four species. As for the conduit diameter-density relationship in higher-order roots, the mechanism underpinning this relationship in P. baillonii was different from that in other species. In lower-order roots, different patterns of coefficient of variance for conduit diameter and density provided further evidence for the two types of linkage of root function with root branch order. These linkages corresponding to two types of ephemeral root modules have important implication in the prediction of terrestrial carbon cycling, although we caution that this study was pseudo-replicated. Future studies by sampling more species can test the generality of these two types of linkage.