Intraspecific variation in root system structure in a Pinus thunbergii stand grown in a gravelly spit coast

Abstract

Root systems of Pinus thunbergii planted in coastal forests exhibit high phenotypic plasticity under edaphic conditions. The objectives of this study were as follows: 1) to determine intraspecific variation in root system traits, maximum root depth and length of horizontal roots of P. thunbergii in a gravelly spit within a stand by excavation of entire root systems, and root system structure modelling from photographs; and 2) to determine whether the root system traits can be inferred from aboveground traits. The P. thunbergii trees grew twisting roots through the hard soil layer of sand and gravel and exhibited variation in root systems; most individuals had inherent tap root systems, but one had a two-tiered thick horizontal root system with a thinner tap root. Although the maximum length of the horizontal root had no relationship with the aboveground traits, the maximum root depth of P. thunbergii was significantly related to tree height. This suggests that tree height can be a predictive indicator of root depth, which is valuable for the rehabilitation of disaster-resistant coastal forests. Both surface and solid models of root system were produced using structure-from-motion with a multi-view stereophotogrammetry method, which enabled continuous estimation of the sum of the root cross-sectional area at any depth in the depth direction. The new method of reconstructing root system models was effective for post-analysis of traits after excavation. We concluded that intraspecific variations in the root system traits of P. thunbergii were observed even at the stand level on a gravelly spit coast.

Plant phenotyping relevance

根系形態の取得・再構成手法（SfMと多視点ステレオ写真測量）の開発・適用が中心で、根の深さ、長さ、断面積を定量化しているため。

Code and data availability

公開本文の所在を確認できませんでした。非公開または購読が必要な可能性があります。

No evidence-backed public reproduction asset is currently recorded.