1. Seasonal patterns of root production of Japanese oak seedlings and dwarf bamboo grown in rhizoboxes.
- Author
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Fukuzawa, K., Dannoura, M., Kanemitsu, S., and Kosugi, Y.
- Subjects
- *
OAK , *BAMBOO , *PLANT roots , *SOIL temperature ,SEEDLING roots - Abstract
We separately examined the temporal patterns of root production by Japanese oak (Quercus crispula) and dwarf bamboo (Sasa veitchii), which is a major understory species in cool temperate forests. We grew Japanese oak seedlings and Sasa stocks (i.e., the rhizome and connected culms) in organic-free sand in rhizoboxes and then scanned roots that were visible through the sides of the rhizoboxes to measure the length of each root in images. Japanese oak root production peaked in July, but Sasa root production peaked in both July and October. Soil temperature was highly correlated with root production of Japanese oak, but less so with Sasa root. Leaves of Sasa expanded in late summer, and the photosynthetic rate of Sasa was highest in September, suggesting that the aboveground phenology influences the extensive root production of Sasa in October due to the supply of carbohydrate. These results demonstrate different temporal patterns of root production by Japanese oak seedlings and understory species (Sasa), even under similar environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2010
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