Phylogenetic signals, biomass allocation, and variation patterns
collectively reflect the adaptive strategies of root system architecture
of annual ephemerals
Abstract
Root system architecture is limited by phylogenetic relationships and
ultimately affect the biomass allocation of resource acquisition organs.
However, many studies have only focused on the impact of environmental
driven trait variation and biomass allocation on root system
architecture, neglecting the impact of phylogenetic relationships.
Therefore, biomass allocation and phylogenetic relationship affect the
root system architecture and its variation patterns were investigated in
annual ephemerals. We found that the interspecific variation of root
tissue density (RTD) was the highest (51.63%), and the topological
index (TI) was the lowest (5.92%). Moreover, the range of intraspecific
variation for specific root length (SRL) and specific surface area (SRA)
is high, and the TI is low. This convergence and divergence of root
traits reflect the Phenotypic plasticity of roots and their adaptation
to environmental filtering and interspecific competition. Maximum root
depth (MRD) was detected significantly and weakly phylogenetic signal (0