In situ seasonal patterns of root auxin concentrations and meristem length in an arctic sedgeShow others and affiliations
2024 (English)In: New Phytologist, ISSN 0028-646X, E-ISSN 1469-8137, Vol. 242, no 3, p. 988-999Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
- Seasonal dynamics of root growth play an important role in large-scale ecosystem processes; they are largely governed by growth regulatory compounds and influenced by environmental conditions. Yet, our knowledge about physiological drivers of root growth is mostly limited to laboratory-based studies on model plant species.
- We sampled root tips of Eriophorum vaginatum and analyzed their auxin concentrations and meristem lengths biweekly over a growing season in situ in a subarctic peatland, both in surface soil and at the permafrost thawfront.
- Auxin concentrations were almost five times higher in surface than in thawfront soils and increased over the season, especially at the thawfront. Surprisingly, meristem length showed an opposite pattern and was almost double in thawfront compared with surface soils. Meristem length increased from peak to late season in the surface soils but decreased at the thawfront.
- Our study of in situ seasonal dynamics in root physiological parameters illustrates the potential for physiological methods to be applied in ecological studies and emphasizes the importance of in situ measurements. The strong effect of root location and the unexpected opposite patterns of meristem length and auxin concentrations likely show that auxin actively governs root growth to ensure a high potential for nutrient uptake at the thawfront.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2024. Vol. 242, no 3, p. 988-999
Keywords [en]
auxin, Eriophorum vaginatum, meristem length, permafrost, root growth, root phenology
National Category
Botany Ecology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-221838DOI: 10.1111/nph.19616ISI: 001167077800001PubMedID: 38375943Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85186217219OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-221838DiVA, id: diva2:1843879
Funder
VinnovaKnut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationSwedish Research Council2024-03-122024-03-122024-06-25Bibliographically approved