Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31332426›Full record

ArticleAnnals of botany2019

Cluster root-bearing Proteaceae species show a competitive advantage over non-cluster root-bearing species.

Alex Fajardo, Frida I Piper

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of botany, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Alex FajardoCentro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Coyhaique, Chile.
Frida I PiperCentro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Coyhaique, Chile.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimsCluster roots (CRs) constitute a special root adaptation that enables plants to take up nutrients, especially phosphorus (P), from soils with low nutrient availability, including recent volcanic deposits. It is unclear, however, how CR species interact with non-cluster root-bearing (NCR) species, and how substrates' fertility modulates potential interactions.

methodsWe experimentally assessed the net interaction between CR and NCR species using two substrates of contrasting fertility: nutrient-rich nursery mix and tephra (low P availability). We planted seedlings of two southern South American (SSA) Proteaceae, CR species and two NCR Nothofagus species in pairs (conspecifics and heterospecifics) and as singles. We analysed the effect of seedling neighbours on survival, growth performance (e.g. total biomass and leaf area) and leaf and substrate nutrient concentrations (including manganese, a proxy for P-acquisition efficiency through CR activity) using the relative interaction index. KEY

resultsAfter three growing seasons, we found that (1) Proteaceae species had fewer CRs and lower CR biomass and grew less in the tephra than in the nursery substrate; (2) Nothofagus species did not improve their survival and growth in the presence of Proteaceae species in any substrate; (3) contrary to Nothofagus, Proteaceae species improved their growth more when planted with any neighbour (including conspecifics) than when planted alone, which was accompanied by a significant accretion of leaf P; and (4) the presence of a neighbour increased the final nitrogen and P concentrations in the nursery substrate, regardless of species identity.

conclusionsCRs provide Proteaceae a competitive advantage over NCR species at the seedling stage, which may have important consequences for species coexistence and community structuring. The investigated SSA Proteaceae, which have not evolved in nutrient-impoverished soils, as have their relatives in south-western Australia and South Africa, improve their growth when cultivated in pairs, especially in nutrient-rich substrates.

Indexed as

ProteaceaePhosphorusPlant RootsSoilSouth AfricaSouth AustraliaWestern AustraliaPhosphorusSoilCompetitionEmbothrium coccineumfacilitationGevuina avellanaleaf MnNothofagusPatagoniaplant community diversityplant–plant interactions

Identifiers

PMID31332426
PMCPMC7145645

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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.