Yueping Huang , Yuandong Hong , Kaiwen Liang

Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resouces, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Soil Biology, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 4   doi: 10.5376/msb.2024.15.0018
Received: 05 Jun., 2024    Accepted: 11 Jul., 2024    Published: 27 Jul., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Huang Y.P., Hong Y.D., and Liang K.W., 2024, Impact of tree root structure on soil water dynamics: drought adaptation mechanisms and ecological significance, Molecular Soil Biology, 15(4): 172-182 (doi: 10.5376/msb.2024.15.0018)

The study reveals several key findings. Firstly, tree roots exhibit a variety of adaptive responses to drought, including adjustments in root biomass, anatomical changes, and physiological acclimations. Specific root traits such as root depth, root length, and root hair density play crucial roles in water extraction and drought tolerance. Additionally, the presence of mycorrhizas significantly enhances root drought resistance by improving water and nutrient uptake. The research also highlights the importance of root hydraulics in maintaining water balance during critical growth stages. Furthermore, different tree species employ distinct metabolic and structural defense mechanisms to cope with drought, influenced by both root architecture and microbial interactions. The findings underscore the critical role of tree root structure in mediating soil water dynamics and drought adaptation. Understanding these mechanisms provides valuable insights into the ecological significance of root traits and their potential applications in forestry and agriculture. The study suggests that enhancing specific root traits through breeding or management practices could improve tree resilience to drought, thereby supporting ecosystem stability and productivity under changing climatic conditions.

Dryland farming; Hybrid rice; Root growth; Rhizosphere microbial functions; Nitrogen-fixing bacteria; Methanotrophs; Crop productivity; Sustainable agriculture