Specific root respiration of three plant species as influenced by storage time and conditions

Abstract

Abstract Aims Specific root respiration (RR S ) is a key root trait, determining i.e. nutrient foraging and uptake efficiencies. However, a considerable uncertainty exists regarding the effects of storage time and conditions on RR S measurements. Methods Fine root CO 2 efflux rates of three plant types (tree seedling Carpinus betulus , legume Pisum sativum , grass Lolium perenne ) were measured as depending on storage time (30–1440 min post-rinsing) and conditions (i.e. attached to plant, warm and cold water storage, and storage under dry conditions). Results Short-term storage conditions (30 min) had a significant effect on measured RR S rates, in specific, RR S rates of all three species were significantly lower under dry storage. Irrespective of plant species or temperature, storage of excised roots in water did not affect RR S for 300 min,. RR S measurements remained stable for 1 day if roots were stored cold. Conclusions Our results have important implications on measurement routines of RR S —a generally understudied root trait. Henceforth it seems reasonable to collect roots in the field and transport them, hydrated but even uncooled, to the laboratory for subsequent measurements for at least 300 min post-rinsing.

Plant phenotyping relevance

根呼吸という植物生理形質の測定について、保存時間・条件が測定値に及ぼす影響を検証し、測定ルーチンへの具体的示唆を示しているため、測定法の技術的検証が中心である。

Code and data availability

The article reports root respiration measurements and root trait data but provides no public dataset deposit, no author analysis code or workflow with availability language, and no trained models. The only supplement (ESM 1, a 335 kb PDF) is described only as containing method details and figures, not the underlying or

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