Testing allometric scaling relationships in plant roots

Forest Ecosystems

T. Ryan Lock¹  Robert L. Kallenbach¹  Zhiyou Yuan²  Qiang Deng²  Xinrong Shi² 

[1] Division of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, University of Missouri;State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources;

关键词: Allometry;    Biomass;    Metabolic scaling;    Plant roots;    Productivity;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40663-020-00269-6

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Metabolic scaling theory predicts that plant productivity and biomass are both size-dependent. However, this theory has not yet been tested in plant roots. Methods In this study, we tested how metabolic scaling occurs in plants using a comprehensive plant root dataset made up of 1016 observations from natural habitats. We generated metabolic scaling exponents by log-transformation of root productivity versus biomass. Results Results showed that the metabolic scaling exponents of fine root (< 2 mm in diameter) productivity versus biomass were close to 1.0 for all ecosystem types and functional groups. Scaling exponents decreased in coarse roots (> 2 mm in diameter). Conclusions We found isometric metabolic scaling in fine roots, a metabolically active organ similar to seedlings or saplings. Our findings also indicate a shift in metabolic scaling during plant development. Overall, our study supports the absence of any unified single constant scaling exponent for metabolism-biomass relationships in terrestrial plants, especially for forests with woody species.

【 授权许可】

Unknown