ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 5209
Session = 11.15.6


WHY PLANTS BOTHER: ROOT PROLIFERATION CONFERS COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE DURING NITROGEN CAPTURE FROM PATCHES.


D. Robinson, A. Hodge, B. Griffiths, A. Fitter. Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundee and University of York, UK


Root proliferations in nitrogen-rich patches are considered to maximize N uptake. However, nitrate mobility nullifies the effect of proliferation on uptake. Many experiments show only a weak relation between uptake and proliferation. Proliferation can occur after N capture. So: Why do plants bother to proliferate roots in N-rich patches? N capture is associated with proliferation when the patch comprises mixed N sources, N supply is finite, and plants with different proliferation capacities compete. Removing any of these obscures the significance of proliferation for N capture. We conclude that proliferation can be important in N-limited, mixed communities, has a limited impact on uptake by monocultures, and its effects are context-dependent.


HTML-Version made 7. July 1999 by Kurt Stüber