Distinct root system acclimation patterns of seagrass <i>Zostera japonica</i> in sediments of different trophic status: a research by X-ray computed tomography -- Journal of Oceanology and Limnology,2021,39(6):2267-2280

	Cite this paper:
	Xiaoyue SONG, Yi ZHOU, Jiangning ZENG, Lu SHOU, Xiaomei ZHANG, Shidong YUE, Wei GAO, Weihua FENG, Zhifu WANG, Ping DU. Distinct root system acclimation patterns of seagrass Zostera japonica in sediments of different trophic status: a research by X-ray computed tomography[J]. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2021, 39(6): 2267-2280

Distinct root system acclimation patterns of seagrass Zostera japonica in sediments of different trophic status: a research by X-ray computed tomography

Xiaoyue SONG¹, Yi ZHOU², Jiangning ZENG¹, Lu SHOU¹, Xiaomei ZHANG², Shidong YUE², Wei GAO³, Weihua FENG⁴, Zhifu WANG⁴, Ping DU¹

1 Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China;
2 CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China;
3 College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China;
4 Key Laboratory of Engineering Oceanography, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China

Abstract:

Conspecific seagrass living in differing environments may develop different root system acclimation patterns. We applied X-ray computed tomography (CT) for imaging and quantifying roots systems of Zostera japonica collected from typical oligotrophic and eutrophic sediments in two coastal sites of northern China, and determined sediment physicochemical properties that might influence root system morphology, density, and distribution. The trophic status of sediments had little influence on the Z. japonica root length, and diameters of root and rhizome. However, Z. japonica in oligotrophic sediment developed the root system with longer rhizome node, deeper rhizome distribution, and larger allocation to below-ground tissues in order to acquire more nutrients and relieve the N deficiency. And the lower root and rhizome densities of Z. japonica in eutrophic sediment were mainly caused by fewer shoots and shorter longevity, which was resulted from the more serious sulfide inhibition. Our results systematically revealed the effect of sediment trophic status on the phenotypic plasticity, quantity, and distribution of Z. japonica root system, and demonstrated the feasibly of X-ray CT in seagrass root system research.

Received: 2020-10-30 Revised: 2020-11-28

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Articles by Yi ZHOU

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