ArticleNature communications2019
Nonlinearity of root trait relationships and the root economics spectrum.
Article in Nature communications, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 78 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
78 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Genome-Wide Meta-Analysis of QTLs Associated with Root Traits and Implications for Maize Breeding.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Pooled it
- A trait-based integration of competition and abiotic tolerance underlies plant success.The New phytologist · 2026Article
- Article
- On the relationship between root economics and plant hydraulic traits.The New phytologist · 2026Article
- Leaf-Root Trait Coordination Among Dominant Herbaceous Species Across Three Marsh Habitats in Northeast China.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Above- and Belowground Traits are Linked Within Species, but Vary Differently Along Environmental Gradients.Ecology and evolution · 2026Article
- Fine-root trait variation in temperate trees follows arc-shape pattern along deep soil profiles.The New phytologist · 2026Article
- Latitudinal patterns and environmental correlates of plant root exudation.Nature ecology & evolution · 2026Article
- Ontogenetic Shifts in Mycorrhiza-Mediated Neighborhood Effects Among Multi-Stemmed Species in a Subtropical Forest.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Island influences on plant functional traits and trait-trait associations across species- and community-scales.The New phytologist · 2026Article
- The overlooked role of root water content in the root economics space.Nature plants · 2026Article
- Short-term nitrogen addition mediates nutrient allocation and resorption trade-offs in Populus koreana: insights for vegetation restoration on volcanic lava platform.BMC plant biology · 2026Article
- Traits and functions of alpine plant communities respond strongly but not always sufficiently to in situ climate change.The New phytologist · 2026Article
- Crowdsourced biodiversity monitoring fills gaps in global plant trait mapping.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Spatiotemporal Root-Trait Plasticity Underpins Almond Yield Stability and Enhanced Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiency Under Prolonged Fertigation Reduction.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Root growth and function in New Zealand pasture systems: a perspective on research needs, methods, and system integration.Frontiers in plant science · 2026Article
- Root structural remodeling under soil compaction for herbaceous plants.Plant diversity · 2026Article
- Relationships among leaf, stem, and root traits ofFrontiers in plant science · 2026Article
- Dryland herbs coordinate leaf protection, absorptive root morphology and lateral-root proliferation along aridity gradients.Frontiers in plant science · 2026Article
- Absorptive Roots Prioritize Chemical over Morphological Investment Under Litter Addition in a Qinling Pine-Oak Mixed Forest.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
18 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
The root economics spectrum (RES), a common hypothesis postulating a tradeoff between resource acquisition and conservation traits, is being challenged by conflicting relationships between root diameter, tissue density (RTD) and root nitrogen concentration (RN). Here, we analyze a global trait dataset of absorptive roots for over 800 plant species. For woody species (but not for non-woody species), we find nonlinear relationships between root diameter and RTD and RN, which stem from the allometric relationship between stele and cortical tissues. These nonlinear relationships explain how sampling bias from different ends of the nonlinear curves can result in conflicting trait relationships. Further, the shape of the relationships varies depending on evolutionary context and mycorrhizal affiliation. Importantly, the observed nonlinear trait relationships do not support the RES predictions. Allometry-based nonlinearity of root trait relationships improves our understanding of the ecology, physiology and evolution of absorptive roots.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.