@Article{phyton.2018.87.051,
AUTHOR = {Ithurrart LS, CA Busso, YA Torres, DV Peláez, H Giorgetti, G Rodríguez, ML Ambrosino},
TITLE = {Root traits and arbuscular mycorrhiza on perennial grasses exposed to defoliation after a controlled burning},
JOURNAL = {Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany},
VOLUME = {87},
YEAR = {2018},
NUMBER = {all},
PAGES = {51--59},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/phyton/v87nall/33919},
ISSN = {1851-5657},
ABSTRACT = {Plant competition for soil resources is common in
semiarid rangelands. Plants have various, alternative mechanisms to
deal with soil resource acquisition. They include (1) length, weight
and proliferation of roots, (2) root length density, and (3) root colonization
by arbuscular mycorrhiza. In rangelands of Argentina, plants
are exposed to herbivory after natural fires. As a result, knowledge
on how these disturbances impact root traits is important for outlining
guidelines focused on rangeland management and improvement.
Our aim was to analyze the effects of defoliation after a controlled
burning on root traits (1) to (3) on two preferred (<i>Poa ligularis</i> and
<i>Nassella tenuis</i>) and one unpreferred (<i>Amelichloa ambigua</i>) perennial
grasses. Applied treatments did not affect neither root length nor
percentage colonization by arbucular mycorrhiza. The smaller diameter
and greater root length found in <i>P. ligularis</i> might contribute
to explain its lower root mycorrhizal colonization in comparison to
<i>A. ambigua</i> and <i>N. tenuis</i>, respectively. The greatest root length and
weight, on <i>P. ligularis</i> will contribute to explain the already known
greater competitive ability in this than in the other two study species.
Our results suggest that defoliating <i>P. ligularis</i> after fire would not
compromise its competitive ability, thus contributing to rangeland
management.},
DOI = {10.32604/phyton.2018.87.051}
}