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Differences in investment and functioning of cluster roots account for different distributions of Banksia attenuata and B. sessilis, with contrasting life history

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Abstract

Aims

Banksia attenuata is a resprouting species growing in deep sand, while B. sessilis is a fire-killed species occurring in shallow sand over laterite or limestone. We aimed to discover the ecophysiological basis for their different distributions by exploring their investment in deep non-cluster roots and shallow cluster roots, and their cluster-root functioning.

Methods

Deep-pot (1 m), shallow-pot (400 mm), hydroponic experiments and phosphorus (P)-extraction experiment were carried out. Biomass allocation, cluster-root exudation, plant P and leaf manganese (Mn) concentrations were measured.

Results

Banksia attenuata allocated more biomass to deep roots and less biomass to cluster roots than B. sessilis did in deep pots. The two Banksias released similar carboxylates in all experiments, with similar carboxylate-exudation rates in hydroponics. The carboxylate amount per unit cluster root of B. sessilis grown in shallow pots was greater than that of B. attenuata, and B, sessilis acquired more P than B. attenuata did in limestone substrate.

Conclusions

Greater investment in deep roots for water uptake accounts for the presence of B. attenuata in deep sand, and vice versa for the absence of B. sessilis. A larger investment in cluster roots, which released greater amounts of carboxylates, likely accounts for B. sessilis occurring over limestone. Trade-offs in investment and cluster-root functioning support the species’ distribution patterns and life histories. Leaf Mn concentration was a good proxy for the plant capacity to acquire P.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Caio Guilherme Pereira, Kenny Png, Kelsie Lambert, Azrul Azmi and Li Yan for help with plant harvesting and sample processing, Jiayin Pang, Wenli Ding, Patrick E. Hayes, Hongtao Zhong, Daniel Beeck for helpful advice on the experiments, and Rob Creasy and Bill Piasini for help with maintaining the plants in the glasshouse. We are grateful to Greg Cawthray for help with HPLC analyses, to Elizabeth Halladin for help with plant digestion, and to Michael Smirk for help with ICP-OES. Dr. Jianmin Shi was supported by the China Scholarship Council.

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Author notes

  1. Jianmin Shi

    Present address: College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 1011 Zhimin Road, Nanchang, 330045, China

  2. David Strack

    Present address: , 11A Lena St, Tuart Hill (Perth), WA 6060, Australia

  3. Zhongming Han

    Present address: College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia

    Jianmin Shi, David Strack, Felipe E. Albornoz, Zhongming Han & Hans Lambers

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Correspondence to Jianmin Shi.

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Shi, J., Strack, D., Albornoz, F.E. et al. Differences in investment and functioning of cluster roots account for different distributions of Banksia attenuata and B. sessilis, with contrasting life history. Plant Soil 447, 85–98 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-03982-6

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