Plant and Soil最新文献

{"title":"Deep soil moisture has limited impact on mitigating drought stress effects on plant transpiration in a subtropical secondary forest","authors":"Ji Zhang, Na Liu, Cicheng Zhang, Xinping Zhang, Xinguang He, Wulin Jiang, Jiajie Li, Ziwei Zhan, Dejing Peng, Dongjie Lv, Suixia Ni","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07398-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07398-3","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Aims</h3><p>The projected increase in drought intensity and frequency due to climate change is expected to exert sustained pressure on forest survival and growth in southern China. However, it remains unclear how plants adjust their water-use strategies and competitive mechanisms in response to water scarcity, as well as the effectiveness of these adaptations in mitigating drought-induced physiological stress.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>In this study, we used water stable isotopes and sap flow measurements to evaluate the adjustment of water-use patterns and interspecific interactions in response to seasonal drought for two widespread species, <i>Cinnamomum camphora</i> and <i>Ligustrum lucidum</i>, in a subtropical secondary forest. The contribution of water from different soil depths was estimated using a Bayesian isotope mixing model.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Both target species exhibited reduced sensitivity to atmospheric water demand and decreased water uptake from topsoil during drought. Although the two species showed temporary hydrological niche segregation and extracted more water from deep soil water to varying extent during drought, the water stress on plant transpiration was not effectively alleviated This is likely related to the fine root vertical distribution and intense local soil hydrological conditions.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Our results underscore the drought sensitivity and vulnerability of <i>C. camphora</i> and <i>L. lucidum</i> and the pressure of water resources induced by unique local environment conditions in subtropical secondary forests. These findings provide valuable insights into future forest management and species selection in plantation restoration efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"57 16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143703247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unraveling the paradox: Increased glomalin accumulation amid declining mycorrhizal biomass across a two-million-year dune chronosequence","authors":"Zhijian Mou, Yaoyao Hao, Hans Lambers, Benjamin L. Turner, Ellen Kandeler, Zhanfeng Liu","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07391-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07391-w","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aims</h3><p>Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are integral to the global carbon and nutrient cycles, primarily through the production of glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), which contributes significantly to soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and ecosystem stability. However, the distribution pattern and environmental controls of GRSP during long-term ecosystem development are poorly understood.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Here, we investigated the dynamics of GRSP and its contribution to SOC accumulation along a 2-million-year chronosequence at Jurien Bay, south-western Australia, a biodiversity hotspot with severe phosphorus (P) deficiency.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Our results revealed a progressive decline in AMF biomass with increasing soil age along the chronosequence, driven by P depletion and a reduction in the relative dominance of mycorrhizal plants (indicated by their relative canopy cover). Paradoxically, GRSP concentrations, especially easily-extractable GRSP (EE-GRSP), increased significantly along the chronosequence and peaked in the most weathered and severely P-impoverished soils. In addition, GRSP contributed up to 142 ± 15 mg SOC g⁻¹, with increased production and stability facilitated by interactions with soil acidity, fine texture, nutrient stoichiometry, and mycorrhizal plant richness (the number of plant species that can form a symbiosis with AMF).</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>These results demonstrate that GRSP dynamics is primarily determined by AMF turnover, mycorrhizal plant species richness, and nutrient limitation, underscoring its critical role in SOC accumulation under nutrient-depleted conditions. This study advances our mechanistic understanding of AMF-mediated soil processes, with implications for sustainable land management and climate change mitigation in nutrient-limited yet biodiverse ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143703337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Goose herbivory effects on early-stage litter decomposition in coastal Alaskan wetlands","authors":"Taylor Saunders, Jaron Adkins, Trisha B. Atwood, Bonnie G. Waring, Karen H. Beard","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07383-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07383-w","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Aims</h3><p>Herbivores create large differences in litter decomposition rates, but identifying how they do this can be difficult because they simultaneously influence both biotic and abiotic factors. In the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) River Delta in western Alaska, geese are dominant herbivores in wet-sedge meadows, where they create ‘grazing lawns’ that have nutrient-rich litter and an open habitat structure. To understand how geese affect decomposition, we tested the effects of litter quality and habitat type on litter decomposition over one year.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We performed a litter bag study in which we collected two litter types representing grazed and ungrazed vegetation conditions (high quality litter similar to grazed litter, and lower quality senesced, ungrazed litter), then incubated them in ‘grazing lawn’ and ungrazed meadows. Litter mass loss, carbon, nitrogen, cellulose and lignin content were measured after 3, 6, 9, and 52 weeks. We also monitored abiotic conditions (i.e., soil temperature, UV radiation, throughfall, and soil moisture content) in each habitat type.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>High-quality litter (lower lignin:N ratios) lost more mass than low-quality ungrazed litter over the whole study. However, at different times during the decomposition process, lower quality litter decomposed faster in grazed habitat, whereas higher quality litter decomposed faster in ungrazed habitat. This occurred despite abiotic conditions in grazed habitat that generally promote faster decomposition.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Results suggest that herbivore-induced increases in litter quality increase decomposition rates, and that the accumulation of the low-quality litter in ungrazed habitats is partly due to slow decomposition rates. While herbivores influence habitat conditions, the effects of habitat on decomposition differed across litter qualities, which suggests that other variables, such as differing microbial communities, play a role in decomposition processes.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"71 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143703249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mycorrhizal networks promote interspecific facilitation in P uptake by a maize/faba bean mixture","authors":"Jie Dai, Thomas W. Kuyper, Chengran Zhao, Yalin Liu, Chaochun Zhang, Lin Zhang, Chunjie Li","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07389-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07389-4","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aims</h3><p>Interspecific belowground interactions can facilitate phosphorus (P) uptake in cereal/legume intercropping. However, the role of mycorrhizal symbioses and their interaction with root exudates in the improved P uptake in intercropping is not clear. This study aimed to investigate how the interaction between roots, root exudates and mycorrhizal fungal hyphae affected P uptake by maize mixed with faba bean.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Microcosms with two compartments and low-P soil were used, separated by solid plastic sheet, 0.45 μm nylon mesh, 30 μm nylon mesh, or no barrier. One compartment contained maize, and the other contained maize or faba bean. Plant biomass, P content, root exudates, mycorrhizal colonization rate and root morphological parameters were determined. The contribution of root proximity, root exudates and mycorrhizal networks to plant biomass and P uptake were calculated.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>For maize/faba bean mixture, biomass and shoot P content of maize with no barrier and 30 μm mesh were similar and higher than with solid plastic sheet and 0.45 μm mesh, indicating the beneficial effect of mycorrhizal networks. There was no difference in biomass and P content among different root separation treatments for monocultured maize. Rhizosphere pH and acid phosphatase activity of maize were different among barrier treatments regardless of mixture or monoculture.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>The mycorrhizal networks among the interspecific belowground interactions played a major role in promoting the growth and P uptake of mixed maize in a maize/faba bean mixture, which is important to understand the mechanisms underlying improved P uptake in cereal/legume intercropping.\u0000</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"183 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143712747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-omics insights into rhizobium-induced cadmium tolerance in Robinia pseudoacacia: antioxidant-metabolic coordination and transporter activation","authors":"Lan Gao, Shufeng Wang, Hongxia Du, Wancang Zhao, Qiaozhi Mao, Ming Ma, Heinz Rennenberg","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07404-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07404-8","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aims</h3><p>Rhizobia can enhance legume growth in the presence of heavy metals, making the legume-rhizobium symbiosis promising for heavy metal phytoremediation. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which rhizobia enhance cadmium (Cd) tolerance of <i>Robinia pseudoacacia</i>.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We investigated two <i>R. pseudoacacia</i> genotypes with contrasting Cd accumulation capacity: SX (high-accumulating) and HB (low-accumulating). The study examined oxidative stress responses, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging mechanisms, and changes in transcriptome and metabolome profiles following Cd exposure and rhizobium inoculation.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Rhizobium inoculation effectively reduced H₂O₂ and MDA accumulation in both genotypes, enhancing their antioxidative substances, despite increased shoot Cd accumulation. Furthermore, rhizobium symbiosis promoted the accumulation of amino acids and carbohydrates, providing additional carbon resources and osmo-protective compounds to support Cd stress responses. Transcriptome analysis revealed elevated expression of metal transporter genes (<i>ABC</i>, <i>OPT</i>, <i>HIP</i>, <i>DTX</i> families) in SX shoots, leading to differential Cd accumulation between the genotypes. Under Cd exposure, SX plants exhibited significantly higher levels of flavonoid-related transcripts and metabolites, also antioxidant enzymes and substances compared to HB plants.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Rhizobium inoculation alleviates cadmium toxicity to <i>R. pseudoacacia</i> by mitigating oxidative stress and activating amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, enhancing the antioxidant defense system and Cd tolerance of <i>R. pseudoacacia</i>. These findings provide new insights into the Cd tolerance mechanisms of the <i>Robinia</i>-rhizobium symbiosis and its utilization for phytoremediation and heavy metal pollution management.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143703248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Root traits of host plants regulated the rhizosphere fungal community structures both under ambient and long-term N and P enrichment conditions in a temperate steppe","authors":"Yumeng Guo, Ren Bai, Jun Sheng, Yujia Yuan, Guangyuan Yuan, Fengfeng Cao, Zuoqing Jiang, Wenming Bai, Meng Zhou","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07381-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07381-y","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aims</h3><p>Rhizosphere is the main interface for nutrients and energy exchange among plants, soil, and microorganisms. However, the influence of plant traits on rhizosphere microorganisms remains largely obscure, especially under long-term nutrient enrichment in temperate steppes. This study aims to investigate the importance of plant root and leaf traits, and rhizosphere soil properties in driving the response of rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities to long-term nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) enrichment.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We evaluated the responses of plant traits, rhizosphere soil properties, and rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities of dominant species to 15-year N and P addition in a temperate steppe.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Long-term N addition decreased the rhizosphere bacterial diversity and altered the bacterial and fungal community compositions and structures. However, microbial communities were relatively insensitive to P addition. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms of the shifts in fungal and bacterial community structures differed. The fungal community structures were primarily influenced by plant species identity, which was largely attributed to the root traits of host plants. Specifically, root diameter and specific root length, which exhibited considerable interspecific variation, were the most important factors regulating the fungal community structures. In contrast, bacterial community structures were strongly correlated with the N enrichment-induced changes in soil pH.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Our results revealed that root traits of host plants play crucial roles in regulating rhizosphere fungal communities under both ambient and long-term nutrient enrichment conditions in a temperate steppe, which provide new insights for our understanding of correlations between plant and rhizosphere microbiomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143695573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Organically managed Sanqi alters the soil C metabolism and purine metabolism pathway through metagenomic and metabolomic analyses","authors":"Shu He, Rui Rui, Jingying Hei, Yue Li, Noor Faisal, Biao Wang, Xiahong He, Shu Wang","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07396-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07396-5","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Aims</h3><p><i>Panax notoginseng</i> (Sanqi), organically cultivated in the forest understory, has been shown to enhance its quality. However, the impact of organically vs. conventionally managed Sanqi on soil community composition, function, and metabolites remains unclear.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Here, we compared various land use patterns, including monoculture pine (MP), organically managed Sanqi (OMS), and conventionally managed Sanqi (CMS), to explore the diversity, function, and metabolism of the soil microbiome using metagenomic and metabolomic techniques.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Our findings revealed that OMS and MP exhibited similar microbial α-diversity, community structure, and function as opposed to CMS. Moreover, both the OMS and CMS demonstrated a higher level of microbial complexity and stability than the MP, with respective enhancements ranging from 1.106% to 1.359% and 1.037% to 1.113%. Acidobacteria and <i>Bradyrhizobium japonicum</i> were significantly enriched in OMS but not in CMS. The OMS soils exhibited a notable enhancement in the carbon fixation pathway. In addition, differential metabolites such as deoxynucleosine, hypoxanthine, deoxyadenosine, deoxyguanosine, inosine, and guanine were found in the highest content in the OMS soils, primarily enriched in the purine metabolism pathway of nucleotide metabolism (map01232). OMS exhibited two additional factors (microbial α-diversity and community structure) directly influencing soil metabolites compared with CMS.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>OMS significantly enhances microbial complexity and stability and the accumulation of beneficial metabolites. As a result, the land use conversion from MP to OMS fosters the development of a more stable and healthier soil environment, thereby providing a robust ecological foundation for the growth of Sanqi.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143695677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction to: Physiological and biochemical responses of the achachairu tree (Garcinia humilis) to the combined effects of salinity and flooding","authors":"Federico W. Sanchez, Jonathan H. Crane, Haimanote K. Bayabil, Ali Sarkhosh, Muhammad A. Shahid, Bruce Schaffer","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07377-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07377-8","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"97 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143695675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Variations in soil properties and vegetation distribution on short gentle slopes in an arid alluvial gravel desert, Northwest China","authors":"Wenrong Kang, Yongyong Zhang, Wenzhi Zhao, Lemin Wei, Shumin Wang","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07400-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07400-y","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aims</h3><p>Topography-induced changes in soil properties significantly influence vegetation distribution in desert ecosystems. While gravel deserts are generally flat, short gentle slopes are common. However, the effects of these slopes on soil properties and vegetation distribution under arid conditions remain unclear.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Utilizing field surveys and UAV technology, this study investigated the effects of short gentle slopes positions and depths on soil properties and vegetation distribution in the Linze gravel desert, Northwest China.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Soil properties varied with both slope position and depth, even on slope less than 2°. The 0–10 cm soil layer showed greater variability than the 10–20 cm layer. At the 0–10 cm layer, the lower slope position had significantly higher saturated hydraulic conductivity (<i>Ks</i>) but lower silt, gravel content, and soil water repellency compared to the upper and middle positions (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). The mean <i>Ks</i> across all slope positions was relatively low, averaging only 0.39 mm min⁻¹. Considering gravel content significantly improved <i>Ks</i> prediction accuracy (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). Variations in surface <i>Ks</i> were key to vegetation distribution. Vegetation distribution exhibited a significant downslope orientation pattern, with lower slopes having 2.2 to 3.7 times more coverage than middle and upper slopes (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.001).</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>Limited infiltration capacity in gravel deserts led to the redistribution of precipitation across slope positions, even on short gentle slopes, resulting in distinct variation patterns. These findings suggest that lower slope positions are more favorable for native vegetation restoration, offering insights for managing gravel desert ecosystems.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143695571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Revisiting the root economics space—its applications, extensions and nuances advance our understanding of fine-root functioning","authors":"Elsa Matthus, Marie Zwetsloot, Benjamin M. Delory, Justus Hennecke, Karl Andraczek, Tilo Henning, Liesje Mommer, Alexandra Weigelt, Joana Bergmann","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07379-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07379-6","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aims</h3><p>Fine roots and their traits determine resource uptake from the soil, thus being fundamental for plant and ecosystem functioning. It has been five years since the concept of the root economics space (RES) has been developed to describe multidimensional fine-root trait coordination. The RES proposed a novel fungal collaboration gradient in addition to the established fast-slow gradient of resource conservation. This review addresses both researchers already using the RES and those newly introduced to the concept. Our objective is to evaluate the empirical support for the concept, explore trait extensions and implications for ecosystem functioning, and examine future prospects of the RES.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Scope/Results</h3><p>We conducted a literature review of 134 papers working with the RES to quantitatively assess support for the concept and its two trait gradients. The RES, particularly the collaboration gradient, is widely supported across organizational levels, habitats and study designs. Multidimensionality in the trait space appears to be a universal pattern. We further map traits that have been added to the RES concept and discuss the special role of legumes and ecto- versus arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>We conclude that the RES is a powerful concept to understand fine-root functional variation. Moving forward, we emphasize the need to integrate additional traits to develop a more comprehensive framework for understanding plant and ecosystem functioning.\u0000</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143677659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}