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The Influence of Steep Slopes on Root System Development

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Abstract

Mechanical forces active on steep slopes tend to overturn plants, which respond by developing a specific asymmetrical architecture in the root system. This asymmetric architecture is the consequence of preferential lateral root emergence and elongation in the up-slope and down-slope directions. Root systems show a normal symmetrical architecture when the same species is grown on plane soil. The asymmetrical root architecture on steep slopes seems to increase the plant's stability by modifying the distribution of mechanical forces into the soil. This hypothesis is supported by the observation that lateral roots developing in the up-slope or down-slope directions present considerable anatomical modifications in shape and tissue-organization compared with lateral roots from plants growing on plane soil.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Ph.D students Solena Sciandra, Alessia Baraldi, and Monica De loanni for their contribution to this work. A special recognition for the help of Dot. Michel Curtet for the digital representation of the root system apparatus during his visit to the University of Molise.

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  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Fisiche e Matematiche, Dipartimento di Biologia Strutturale e Funzionale, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italia

    Donato Chiatante

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie per l'Ambiente ed il Territorio, Università degli Studi del Molise, Via Mazzini 8, 86170 Isernia, Italia

    Stefania G. Scippa, Antonino Di Iorio & Maria Sarnataro

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  1. Donato Chiatante
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  2. Stefania G. Scippa
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Correspondence to Donato Chiatante.

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Chiatante, D., Scippa, S.G., Di Iorio, A. et al. The Influence of Steep Slopes on Root System Development . J Plant Growth Regul 21, 247–260 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-003-0012-0

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