Limited plasticity in functional root traits of maple and oak

Traits affecting the form and function of fine roots in woody plants show complex phenotypic variation. Lee et al. manipulate root segments of 2-year-old Acer rubrum and Quercus rubra seedlings in order to compare functional traits and trait plasticities in fine root tissues with natural and reduced levels of colonization by microbial symbionts. They find negligible plasticity for root diameter, branching intensity and nitrogen concentration across both species between levels of colonization. Roots with reduced colonization have decreased tissue density and increased specific root length, but species differences are significant and greater than treatment effects in traits other than tissue density. If common, such a result would greatly simplify and strengthen ecosystem- and community-level investigations that require information about the costs and benefits of constructing and maintaining fine root tissues.