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Soil pH influences the organic acid metabolism and exudation in cluster roots of protea species from the Mediterranean-type fynbos ecosystem, Western Cape, South Africa

  • In nutrient-poor ecosystems, certain plant families have evolved specific adaptations for phosphate acquisition, namely cluster roots or proteoid roots. Cluster rooted species have a unique suite of adaptations that enable them to survive in nutrient poor ecosystems, such as the Fynbos biome of South Africa. The Fynbos biome has heterogeneous soils which caused radiation of varying soil pH within small localised areas. Previous studies on cluster rooted species ignored the possibility that cluster root functioning may differ at varying soil pH levels and soil types. Therefore, two native Fynbos protea species, Protea cynaroides (L.) L. and Protea obtusifolia H.Buek ex Meisn. were compared to assess the impact of different soil pH levels on organic acid metabolism and exudation in cluster rooted species. Our results show that cluster roots of the acidic-soil grown P. cynaroides is more effective and more efficient than that of the alkaline-soil grown P. obtusifolia. Our findings indicate that the mechanisms for P acquisition varyIn nutrient-poor ecosystems, certain plant families have evolved specific adaptations for phosphate acquisition, namely cluster roots or proteoid roots. Cluster rooted species have a unique suite of adaptations that enable them to survive in nutrient poor ecosystems, such as the Fynbos biome of South Africa. The Fynbos biome has heterogeneous soils which caused radiation of varying soil pH within small localised areas. Previous studies on cluster rooted species ignored the possibility that cluster root functioning may differ at varying soil pH levels and soil types. Therefore, two native Fynbos protea species, Protea cynaroides (L.) L. and Protea obtusifolia H.Buek ex Meisn. were compared to assess the impact of different soil pH levels on organic acid metabolism and exudation in cluster rooted species. Our results show that cluster roots of the acidic-soil grown P. cynaroides is more effective and more efficient than that of the alkaline-soil grown P. obtusifolia. Our findings indicate that the mechanisms for P acquisition vary greatly, depending on substrate and plant organ type. This suggests that the metabolism of each species is adapted to specific soil pH and that these species have evolutionary adapted their P acquisition mechanisms for these extreme soils. The limited nutrient availability and variation in soil pH South African soils has led to various localised adaptations for cluster rooted species.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author: Stian GriebenowORCiD, Nokwanda P. Makunga, Sean Privett, Paula Strauss, Maik VesteORCiD, Aleysia KleinertORCiD, Alexander J. ValentineORCiD
URL:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452219822000167
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2022.100486
Title of the source (English):Rhizosphere
Document Type:Scientific journal article peer-reviewed
Language:English
Year of publication:2022
Tag:Nutrient poor ecosystems; Phosphorus; Root research
Volume/Year:Vol. 21
Article number:100486
Faculty/Chair:Fakultät 2 Umwelt und Naturwissenschaften / FG Bodenschutz und Rekultivierung
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