INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ABOVE AND BELOW GROUND PLANT STRUCTURES: MECHANISMS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

John A. Raven (Lead / Corresponding author)

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    14 Citations (Scopus)
    203 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Interactions between above and below ground parts of plants can be considered under the (overlapping) categories of energy, material and information. Solar energy powers photosynthesis and transpiration by above ground structures, and drives most water uptake through roots and supplies energy as organic matter to below ground parts, including diazotrophic symbionts and mycorrhizas. Material transfer occurs as water and dissolved soil-derived elements transport up the xylem, and a small fraction of water moving up the xylem with dissolved organic carbon and other solutes down the phloem. The cytosolic nature of sieve tubes accounts for at least some of the cycling of K, Mg and P down the phloem. NO3– assimilation of above ground parts requires organic N transport down phloem with, in some cases, organic anions related to shoot acid-base regulation. Long-distance information transfer is related development, biotic and abiotic damage, and above and below ground resource excess and limitation. Information transfer can involve hydraulic, electrical and chemical signaling, with their varying speeds of transmission and information content. Interaction of above and below ground plant parts is an important component of the ecosystem service of storing atmospheric CO2 as organic C in soil, a process that has decreased since the origin of agriculture.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)197-213
    Number of pages17
    JournalFrontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (FASE)
    Volume9
    Issue number2
    Early online date11 Mar 2022
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 15 Jun 2022

    Keywords

    • Aerenchyma
    • Carbon accumulation
    • Hormones
    • Phloem
    • Xylem

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Biotechnology
    • General Veterinary
    • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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