Abstract
Specific functional traits such as shade tolerance or leaf habits can enhance root growth dynamics and structure of planted seedlings in the understory of planted forests. We assessed how low and moderate light levels (17 and 33% of full sunlight, mimicking after-thinning stocking) affect the root growth dynamics and structure of four late successional trees, three deciduous (Acer monspessulanum L., Quercus pyrenaica Willd and Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz) and one evergreen (Quercus ilex L.) species. Rooting depth, dynamics and structure were mainly explained by species functional differences. Roots of deciduous trees elongated faster and deeper and were larger than the roots of the evergreen Q. ilex. Among deciduous trees, S. torminalis had the lowest root growth. Specific leaf area and nutrient concentration were positively related to root growth, highlighting the importance of traits related to the plant economic spectrum, as determinants of species root growth differences. Moderate light level slightly enhanced root growth and decreased the specific leaf area (SLA). Species differences in water potential under drought were positively related to rooting depth, evidencing the importance of its role in overcoming drought stress during seedling establishment. These findings can guide the selection of late successional, shade tolerant tree species for underplanting thinned Mediterranean plantations and provide insights into their ecology.
Highlights
IntroductionTree seedlings are sensitive to abiotic stress factors such as extreme temperatures, high radiation, or drought [1]
Monspessulanum and Q. pyrenaica deepened more than the roots of Q. ilex and S. torminalis
Moderate light increases, such as that which occurs after forest plantation thinning, may enhanced root growth in the studied species
Summary
Tree seedlings are sensitive to abiotic stress factors such as extreme temperatures, high radiation, or drought [1]. Root soil colonization and resource uptake ability depend on growth dynamics, elongation rate of the root system and root architecture, i.e., how plants spatially organize their root systems both at a fine and at a coarse scale [8,9,10]. Understanding how these traits vary both at the intra- and at inter-specific levels and interact with the environment is important for planning forest restoration [11]
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