The biomechanics of Pachycereus pringlei root systems

Abstract

We report on the root system of the large columnar cactus species Pachycereus pringlei to explore the hypothesis that increasing plant size decreases the ability to resist wind-throw but increases the capacity to absorb and store nutrients in roots (i.e., plant size limits the performance of these functions and may shift the performance of one function in favor of another as size increases). Based on 18 plants differing in size, the root system is characterized by a broad and deep bayonet-like root central to a shallow and extensive lateral system of root elements bearing sinker roots near the stem base. All root types have a living secondary cortex and contain wood with a large volume fraction of ray tissues that increases toward the stem base. Wood stiffness and tensile strength are correlated negatively with the ray tissue volume fraction and thus decrease toward the stem base in lateral and bayonet roots. Calculations show that the ability of the bayonet and proximal lateral root elements to resist wind-throw decreases with increasing plant size, whereas the nutrient absorption/storage capacity of the total root system increases with plant size (i.e., a size-dependent shift between these two root functions occurs).