Root morphological and physiological traits are committed to the phosphorus acquisition of the desert plants in phosphorus-deficient soils

作者：Yanju Gao, Zhihao Zhang, Fanjiang Zeng, Xingyu Ma · 发表于：BMC Plant Biology · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1186/s12870-023-04178-y · 被引用次数：23 · 研究领域：Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism、Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics、Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics

Abstract Background Phosphorus (P) deficiency in desert ecosystems is widespread. Generally, desert species may allocate an enormous proportion of photosynthetic carbon to their root systems to adjust their P-acquisition strategies. However, root P-acquisition strategies of deep-rooted desert species and the coordination response of root traits at different growth stages to differing soil P availability remains unclear. In this study, a two-year pot experiment was performed with four soil P-supply treatments (0, 0.9, 2.8, and 4.7 mg P kg –1 y –1 for the control, low-, intermediate-, and high-P supply, respectively). Root morphological and physiological traits of one- and two-year-old Alhagi sparsifolia seedlings were measured. Results For two-year-old seedlings, control or low-P supply significantly increased their leaf Mn concentration, coarse and fine roots’ specific root length (SRL), specific root surface area (SRSA), and acid phosphatase activity (APase), but SRL and SRSA of one-year-old seedlings were higher under intermediate-P supply treatment. Root morphological traits were closely correlated with root APase activity and leaf Mn concentration. One-year-old seedlings had higher root APase activity, leaf Mn concentration, and root tissue density (RTD), but lower SRL and SRSA. Two-year-old seedlings had higher root APase activity, leaf Mn concentration, SRL and SRSA, but a lower RTD. Root APase activity was significantly positively correlated with the leaf Mn concentrat...