Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impacts of morphological traits and temperature on fine root respiration during dormancy of Caragana korshinskii

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Ecological Research

Abstract

Respiration of fine roots (R fr) plays a major role in belowground carbon cycles, but the relationships between R fr and biotic and abiotic factors during plant dormancy remain unclear. We used a standard chamber equipped with an infrared gas analyzer and configured as an open system to measure R fr of intact roots (<2 mm) of Caragana korshinskii in situ in November 2013. Rates of R fr in C. korshinskii were closely related to root morphological traits, including mean root diameter (D fr, mm), specific root length (SRL, root length per unit root mass, m g−1), and root tissue density (RTD, root mass per unit root volume, g cm−3). During dormancy of C. korshinskii, smaller-diameter fine roots had higher respiration rates than larger diameter fine roots, and R fr increased with increasing SRL and decreasing RTD. Meanwhile, R fr rates increased exponentially with increasing root temperature. Soil temperature (especially in the subsoil layer) did not play a role in controlling changes in R fr. The results indicated that changes in root temperature and D fr were likely to determine rates of R fr in C. korshinskii during dormancy. Our results highlight the importance of assessing carbon loss from fine roots during the dormant period.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Apostol KG, Jacobs DF, Wilson BC, Salifua KF, Dumroese RK (2007) Growth, gas exchange, and root respiration of Quercus rubra seedlings exposed to low root zone temperatures in solution culture. For Ecol Manag 253:89–96. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2007.04.054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atkin OK, Edwards EJ, Loveys BR (2000) Response of root respiration to changes in temperature and its relevance to global warming. New Phytol 147:141–154. doi:10.1046/j.1469-8137.2000.00683.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atkin OK, Sherlock D, Fitter AH, Jarvis S, Hughes JK, Campbell C, Hurry V, Hodge A (2009) Temperature dependence of respiration in roots colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytol 182:188–199. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2008.02727.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bahn M, Knapp M, Garajova Z, Pfahringer N, Cernusca A (2006) Root respiration in temperate mountain grasslands differing in land use. Glob Change Biol 12:995–1006. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01144.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauhus J, Messier C (1999) Soil exploitation strategies of fine roots in different tree species of the southern boreal forest of eastern Canada. Can J For Res 29:260–273. doi:10.1139/x98-206

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouma TJ, Yanai RD, Elkin AD, Hartmond U, Flores-Alva DE, Eissenstat DM (2001) Estimating age-dependent costs and benefits of roots with contrasting life span: comparing apples and oranges. New Phytol 150:685–695. doi:10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00128.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brassard B, Chen HYH, Cavard X, Laganière J, Reich PB, Bergeron Y, Paré D, Yuan Z (2013) Tree species diversity increases fine root productivity through increased soil volume filling. J Ecol 101:210–219. doi:10.1111/1365-2745.12023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bryla DR, Bouma TJ, Eissenstat DM (1997) Root respiration in citrus acclimates to temperature and slows during drought. Plant Cell Environ 20:1411–1420. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3040.1997.d01-36.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bryla DR, Bouma TJ, Hartmondb U, Eissenstat DM (2001) Influence of temperature and soil drying on respiration of individual roots in citrus: integrating greenhouse observations into a predictive model for the field. Plant Cell Environ 24:781–790. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3040.2001.00723.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burton AJ, Pregitzer KS (2003) Field measurements of root respiration indicate little to no seasonal temperature acclimation for sugar maple and red pine. Tree Physiol 23:273–280. doi:10.1093/treephys/23.4.273

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burton AJ, Pregitzer KS, Ruess RW, Hendrick RL, Allen MF (2002) Root respiration in North American forests: effects of nitrogen concentration and temperature across biomes. Oecologia 131:559–568. doi:10.1007/s00442-002-0931-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burton AJ, Melillo JM, Frey SD (2008) Adjustment of forest ecosystem root respiration as temperature warms. J Integr Plant Biol 50:1467–1483. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7909.2008.00750.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cannell MGR, Thornley JHM (2000) Modelling the components of plant respiration: some guiding principles. Ann Bot Lond 85:45–54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chave J, Coomes D, Jansen S, Lewis SL, Swenson NG, Zanne AE (2009) Towards a worldwide wood economics spectrum. Ecol Lett 12:351–366. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01285.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen DM, Zhou LX, Rao XQ, Lin YB, Fu SL (2010) Effects of root diameter and root nitrogen concentration on in situ root respiration among different seasons and tree species. Ecol Res 25:983–993. doi:10.1007/s11284-010-0722-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng XR, Huang MB, Shao MG, Warrington DN (2009) A comparison of fine root distribution and water consumption of mature Caragana korshinkii Kom grown in two soils in a semiarid region, China. Plant Soil 315:149–161. doi:10.1007/s11104-008-9739-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clinton BD, Vose JM (1996) Fine root respiration in mature eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) in situ: the importance of CO2 in controlled environments. Tree Physiol 19:475–479. doi:10.1093/treephys/19.7.475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Comas LH, Eissenstat DM (2004) Linking fine root traits to maximum potential growth rate among 11 mature temperate tree species. Funct Ecol 18:388–397. doi:10.1111/j.0269-8463.2004.00835.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Covey-Crump EM, Attwood RG, Atkin OK (2002) Regulation of root respiration in two species of Plantago that differ in relative growth rate: the effect of short- and long-term changes in temperature. Plant Cell Environ 25:1501–1513. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3040.2002.00932.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Craine JM, Froehle J, Tilman DG, Wedin DA, Chapin FS III (2001) The relationships among root and leaf traits of 76 grassland species and relative abundance along fertility and disturbance gradients. Oikos 93:274–285. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.930210.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dannoura M, Kominami Y, Tamai K, Jomura M, Miyama T, Goto Y, Kanazawa Y (2006) Development of an automatic chamber system for long-term measurements of CO2 flux from roots. Tellus 58B:502–512. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0889.2006.00216.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Desrochers A, Landhausser SM, Lieffers VJ (2002) Coarse and fine root respiration in aspen (Populus tremuloides). Tree Physiol 22:725–732. doi:10.1093/treephys/22.10.725

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drake JE, Stoy PC, Jackson RB, DeLucia EH (2008) Fine-root respiration in a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) forest exposed to elevated CO2 and N fertilization. Plant Cell Environ 31:1663–1672. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3040.2008.01869.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eissenstat DM, Wells CE, Yanai RD, Whitbeck JL (2000) Building roots in a changing environment: implications for root longevity. New Phytol 147:33–42. doi:10.1046/j.1469-8137.2000.00686.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ekblad A, Boström B, Holm A, Comstedt D (2005) Forest soil respiration rate and δ13C is regulated by recent above ground weather conditions. Oecologia 143:136–142. doi:10.1007/s00442-004-1776-z

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feng W, Zhang YQ, Wu B, Zha TS, Jia X, Qin SG, Shao CX, Liu JB, Lai ZR, Fa KY (2013) Influence of disturbance on soil respiration in biologically crusted soil during the dry season. Sci World J. doi:10.1155/2013/408560

    Google Scholar 

  • Franck F, Morales JP, Arancibia-Avendanño D, García de Cortázar V, Perez-Quezada JF, Zurita-Silva A, Pastenes C (2011) Seasonal fluctuations in Vitis vinifera root respiration in the field. New Phytol 192:939–951. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03860.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Li X, Liu L, Jia R, Yang H, Li G, Wei Y (2012) Seasonal variation of carbon exchange from a revegetation area in a Chinese desert. Agr For Meteorol 156:134–142. doi:10.1016/j.agrformet.2012.01.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • George K, Norby RJ, Hamilton JG, DeLucia EH (2003) Fine-root respiration in a loblolly pine and sweetgum forest growing in elevated CO2. New Phytol 160:511–522. doi:10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00911.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gunn S, Farrar JF (1999) Effects of a 4 °C increase in temperature on partitioning of leaf area and dry mass, root respiration and carbohydrates. Funct Ecol 13(Suppl. 1):12–20. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2435.1999.00003.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton JG, DeLucia EH, George K, Naidu SL, Finzi AC, Schlesinger WH (2002) Forest carbon balance under elevated CO2. Oecologia 131:250–260. doi:10.1007/s00442-002-0884-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hendrick RL, Pregitzer KS (1992) The demography of fine roots in a northern hardwood forest. Ecology 73:1094–1104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang XM, Lakso AN, Eissenstat DM (2005) Interactive effects of soil temperature and moisture on Concord grape root respiration. J Exp Bot 56:2651–2660. doi:10.1093/jxb/eri258

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson R, Mooney HA, Schulze ED (1997) A global budget for fine root biomass, surface area, and nutrient contents. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94:7362–7366

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jarvi MP, Burton AJ (2013) Acclimation and soil moisture constrain sugar maple root respiration in experimentally warmed soil. Tree Physiol 33:949–959. doi:10.1093/treephys/tpt068

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jia SX, Wang ZQ, Li XP, Zhang XP, Mclaughlin NB (2011) Effect of nitrogen fertilizer, root branch order and temperature on respiration and tissue N concentration of fine roots in Larix gmelinii and Fraxinus mandshurica. Tree Physiol 31:718–726. doi:10.1093/treephys/tpr057

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jia SX, McLaughlin NB, Gu JC, Li XP, Wang ZQ (2013) Relationships between root respiration rate and root morphology, chemistry and anatomy in Larix gmelinii and Fraxinus mandshurica. Tree Physiol 33:579–589. doi:10.1093/treephys/tpt040

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lambers H, Chapin FS, Pons TL (2008) Plant physiological ecology, 2nd edn. Springer, New York, pp 101–149

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Larjavaara M, Muller-Landau HC (2010) Rethinking the value of high wood density. Funct Ecol 24:701–705. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2435.2010.01698.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li SG, Asanuma J, Eugster W, Kotani A, Liu JJ, Urano T, Oikawa T, Davaa G, Oyunbaatar D, Sugita M (2005) Net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange over grazed steppe in central Mongolia. Glob Change Biol 11:1941–1955. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2005.01047.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lipp CC, Andersen CP (2003) Role of carbohydrate supply in white and brown root respiration of ponderosa pine. New Phytol 160:523–531. doi:10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00914.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lucash MS, Eissenstat DM, Joslin JD, McFarlane KJ, Yanai RD (2007) Estimating nutrient uptake by mature tree roots under field conditions: challenges and opportunities. Trees Struct Funct 21:593–603

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lyons EM, Pote J, DaCosta M, Huang B (2007) Whole-plant carbon relations and root respiration associated with root tolerance to high soil temperature for Agrostis grasses. Environ Exp Bot 59:307–313. doi:10.1016/j.envexpbot.2006.04.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M’Bou AT, Saint-André L, de Grandcourt A, Nouvellon Y, Jourdan C, Mialoundama F, Epron D (2010) Growth and maintenance respiration of roots of clonal Eucalyptus cuttings: scaling to stand-level. Plant Soil 332:41–53. doi:10.1007/s11104-009-0272-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makita N, Hirano Y, Dannoura M, Kominami Y, Mizoguchi T, Ishii H, Kanazawa Y (2009) Fine root morphological traits determine variation in root respiration of Quercus serrata. Tree Physiol 29:579–585. doi:10.1093/treephys/tpn050

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Makita N, Kosugi Y, Dannoura M, Takanashi S, Niiyama K, Kassim AR, Nik AR (2012) Patterns of root respiration rates and morphological traits in 13 tree species in a tropical forest. Tree Physiol 32:303–312. doi:10.1093/treephys/tps008

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Makita N, Yaku R, Ohashi M, Fukuda K, Ikeno H, Hirano Y (2013) Effects of excising and washing treatments on the root respiration rates of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) seedlings. J For Res Jpn 18:379–383. doi:10.1007/s10310-012-0355-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marsden C, Nouvellon Y, Thongo M, Bou A, Saint-Andre L, Jourdan C, Kinana A, Epron D (2008) Two independent estimations of stand-level root respiration on clonal Eucalyptus stands in Congo: up scaling of direct measurements on roots versus the trenched-plot technique. New Phytol 177:676–687. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02300.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Poorter L, Bongers F (2006) Leaf traits are good predictors of plant performance across 53 rain forest species. Ecology 87:1733–1743. doi:10.1890/0012-9658(2006)87[1733:LTAGPO]2.0.CO;2

  • Ruehr NK, Buchmann N (2009) Soil respiration fluxes in a temperate mixed forest: seasonality and temperature sensitivities differ among microbial and root-rhizosphere respiration. Tree Physiol 30:165–176. doi:10.1093/treephys/tpp106

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sowell JB, Spomer GG (1986) Ecotypic variation in root respiration rate among elevational populations of Abies lasiocarpa and Picea engelmannii. Oecologia 68:375–379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun T, Mao Z (2011) Functional relationships between morphology and respiration of fine roots in two Chinese temperate tree species. Plant Soil 346:375–384. doi:10.1007/s11104-011-0825-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Y, Gu JC, Zhuang HF, Wang ZQ (2010) Effects of ectomycorrhizal colonization and nitrogen fertilization on morphology of root tips in Larix gmelinii plantation in Northeastern China. Ecol Res 25:295–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vose JM, Ryan MG (2002) Seasonal respiration of foliage, fine roots, and woody tissues in relation to growth, tissue N, and photosynthesis. Glob Change Biol 8:182–193. doi:10.1046/j.13652486.2002.00464.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Peng SS, Fang JU (2010) Root respiration and its relation to nutrient contents in soil and root and EVI among 8 ecosystems, northern China. Plant Soil 333:391–401. doi:10.1007/s11104-010-0354-x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Zha TS, Jia X, Wu B, Zhang YQ, Qin SG (2014) Soil moisture modifies the response of soil respiration to temperature in a desert shrub ecosystem. Biogeosciences 11:259–268. doi:10.5194/bg-11-259-2014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zogg GP, Zak DR, Burton AJ, Pregitzer KS (1996) Fine root respiration in northern hardwood forests in relation to temperature and nitrogen availability. Tree Physiol 16:719–725. doi:10.1093/treephys/16.8.719

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Science and Technology Support Program of the 12th Five-Year Plan (No. 2012BAD16B02).We would particularly like to thank Shijun Liu, a manager at Yanchi Research Station, for his help with root respiration measurements in the field.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yanchi Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, 35 East Qinghua Road Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, People’s Republic of China

    Zongrui Lai, Yuqing Zhang, Bin Wu, Shugao Qin, Wei Feng & Jiabin Liu

Authors
  1. Zongrui Lai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yuqing Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bin Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shugao Qin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wei Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jiabin Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yuqing Zhang or Bin Wu.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lai, Z., Zhang, Y., Wu, B. et al. Impacts of morphological traits and temperature on fine root respiration during dormancy of Caragana korshinskii . Ecol Res 30, 337–345 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-014-1227-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-014-1227-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation