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Molecular markers reveal extensive intraspecific below‐ground overlap of silver fir fine roots
Author(s) -
BRUNNER I.,
RUF M.,
LÜSCHER P.,
SPERISEN C.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2004.02328.x
Subject(s) - intraspecific competition , biology , competition (biology) , biomass (ecology) , tree (set theory) , microsatellite , botany , ecology , biological system , genetics , gene , mathematical analysis , allele , mathematics
Fine roots are expected to be important determinants of plant competition, but very little is known about the extent of root system overlap. Here, we describe the application of two highly variable plastide microsatellites to study the fine root distribution of tree individuals in a silver fir forest. We demonstrate that the spread of fine roots exceeds the width of above‐ground parts, and that fine root overlaps among neighbouring trees are extensive both laterally and in depth. This approach will help to improve models of below‐ground competition and will facilitate estimations of fine root biomass and thus of below‐ground C pools.