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Background and Aims <p>Clonal plants can thrive in heterogeneous environments, yet their adaptive mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesize that to survive in heterogeneous habitats, clonal plants resolve the trade-off between anchorage and foraging through divergent and plastic strategies exhibited by their distinct root systems.</p> Methods <p>To examine root morphological and anatomical traits across a gradient of rock exposure, this study investigated the rhizomatous clonal plant <i>Phyllostachys glauca</i>, which possesses two distinct root types—culm roots and rhizome roots—in limestone hills of China. Three habitat types were defined based on rock exposure rate: low (LRE; &lt; 30%), medium (MRE; 30%–50%), and high (HRE; 50%–80%).</p> Results <p>With increasing rock exposure, rhizome roots displayed increases in cortex thickness and the cortex-to-stele radius ratio (CT:SR) in first-order lateral roots, whereas culm roots showed increases in root length density (RLD) and the stele diameter-to-root diameter ratio (SD:RD) in lateral roots. Furthermore, rhizome roots exhibited hierarchical plasticity across root orders under high rock exposure habitat, with first-order laterals increasing CT:SR for absorption and second-order laterals increasing SD:RD for soil penetration.</p> Conclusion <p>Our findings illustrate an integrated strategy by which root systems adapt to heterogeneous limestone habitats: culm roots enhance mechanical anchorage while rhizome roots exhibit hierarchical plasticity with first-order roots optimized for absorption and second-order roots in transport and mechanical strength to maximize foraging efficiency. The findings offer insights into biogeomorphic feedbacks, and provide a reference for vegetation restoration in fragile ecosystems, particularly in karst landscapes.</p>

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Root system adaptation to heterogeneous habitats: divergent strategies and hierarchical plasticity in a clonal plant

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月3日

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  • Guangru Wang,
  • Juan Wu,
  • Pu Feng,
  • Jiexuan Li,
  • Siyu Mao,
  • Jianmin Shi,
  • Shebao Yu,
  • Hongying Yu

摘要

Background and Aims

Clonal plants can thrive in heterogeneous environments, yet their adaptive mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesize that to survive in heterogeneous habitats, clonal plants resolve the trade-off between anchorage and foraging through divergent and plastic strategies exhibited by their distinct root systems.

Methods

To examine root morphological and anatomical traits across a gradient of rock exposure, this study investigated the rhizomatous clonal plant Phyllostachys glauca, which possesses two distinct root types—culm roots and rhizome roots—in limestone hills of China. Three habitat types were defined based on rock exposure rate: low (LRE; < 30%), medium (MRE; 30%–50%), and high (HRE; 50%–80%).

Results

With increasing rock exposure, rhizome roots displayed increases in cortex thickness and the cortex-to-stele radius ratio (CT:SR) in first-order lateral roots, whereas culm roots showed increases in root length density (RLD) and the stele diameter-to-root diameter ratio (SD:RD) in lateral roots. Furthermore, rhizome roots exhibited hierarchical plasticity across root orders under high rock exposure habitat, with first-order laterals increasing CT:SR for absorption and second-order laterals increasing SD:RD for soil penetration.

Conclusion

Our findings illustrate an integrated strategy by which root systems adapt to heterogeneous limestone habitats: culm roots enhance mechanical anchorage while rhizome roots exhibit hierarchical plasticity with first-order roots optimized for absorption and second-order roots in transport and mechanical strength to maximize foraging efficiency. The findings offer insights into biogeomorphic feedbacks, and provide a reference for vegetation restoration in fragile ecosystems, particularly in karst landscapes.