Responses of the Fine Roots of Citrus to Dry Surface Soil

Abstract

Despite the frequent occurrence of hot, dry surface soil, little is known about the fate of roots in this soil layer during and following periods of surface drought. Phosphorus uptake kinetics were examined in surface roots of citrus seedlings exposed to different periods of drought. Exposure to dry soil for up to 43 days had no effect on phosphate uptake of excised roots measured at solution concentrations of 50, 750, and 1500 μm phosphate. Effects of surface drought on fine root behavior of seedlings and bearing trees were examined in the field using a split-pot arrangement. At the end of 5 weeks of drought, only about 1% of the roots in the top pot of either the seedling or tree had died. By 8 to 9 weeks of drought, about 26% of the fine laterals of the adult citrus had died, but only 6% had died in the seedling. After 15 weeks of drought, 33% of the mature tree fine roots had died but only 8% had died in the seedling. Root-soil respiration per gram root at this time was at least twice as high in the seedling as in the mature tree. Fine roots of citrus are remarkably tolerant to dry surface soils of about 5 weeks duration, both in terms of root survival and resumption of physiological activity after rewetting.