Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41503632›Full record

SynthesisAnnals of botany2026

Drought stress increases total C released from roots.

Danielle E M Ulrich, Kelsey Flathers, Hannah M Goemann, Rebecca C Mueller, Brent M Peyton

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Annals of botany, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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

5 authors.

Danielle E M UlrichDepartment of Ecology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2367-4193
Kelsey FlathersEcostudies Institute, Olympia, WA 98507, USA.
Hannah M GoemannDepartment of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 59616, USA.
Rebecca C MuellerUnited States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA 94710, USA.
Brent M PeytonDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.

Funding

United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture 2021-67014-34902
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimsRoot exudation and rhizodeposition are critical pathways for plant carbon (C) allocation to soil, influencing soil organic C stability and ecosystem functioning under changing climates. However, the effects of drought stress on these below-ground processes remain poorly understood. We provide an updated and comprehensive assessment of the current state of knowledge on how drought stress affects root-derived C fluxes (root exudates, rhizodeposition) across diverse functional types and experimental setups to direct future research.

methodsWe conducted a meta-analysis to quantify how drought stress affects total C and other compound classes in root exudation and rhizodeposition. KEY

resultsOur analysis included 40 data points spanning diverse functional types, ecosystems, sampling methods and experimental conditions. We observed that root-released total C significantly increased in response to drought stress. Among compound classes, carbohydrates and organic acids also increased in response to drought stress, suggesting these compound classes may underlie total C responses in root exudation and rhizodeposition. The variables that explained the most variance in total C response ratio were ecosystem, flowering type, cotyledon type, functional type and drought intensity.

conclusionsTo direct future research, our analysis identified knowledge gaps, particularly the need for studies to examine trees and shrubs, field-based research, broader drought intensity ranges, and measurements of total C, compound classes and specific compounds when possible. Improving our understanding of root-derived C responses to stress is crucial for predicting terrestrial C cycling dynamics and ecosystem function under increased drought frequency and intensity.

Indexed as

CarbonDroughtsPlant RootsStress, PhysiologicalDrought ResistanceSoilCarbonSoilC allocationdrought stressmetabolomicsplant–microbe interactionsrhizodepositionRoot exudatesroots

Identifiers

PMID41503632
PMCPMC13197597

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Registered trials

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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.