Functional significance of cambial development in Vertebraria roots: How do unusual xylem traits serve life at a high latitude?

• Main Authors: Decombeix, Anne-Laure, Rowe, Nick P
• Other Authors: Botanique et Modélisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Végétations (UMR AMAP), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD France-Sud ), Krings Michael, Harper Carla J., Cúneo N. Ruben, Rothwell Gar W
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2018
• Subjects: Xylem; Paleobotany; Anchorage; Heterogeneous matrix; Cost effective; Light structure; Optimized mechanics; Vertebraria; Antarctica; [SDV.BID.SPT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Systematics; Phylogenetics and taxonomy; [SDV.EE.ECO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology; environment/Ecosystems; [SDV.BV.BOT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Vegetal Biology/Botanics; [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology; Glossopteris; Skaar Ridge; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://hal.umontpellier.fr/hal-01931130

International audience Roots of Vertebraria from the Permian of Skaar Ridge, Antarctica are widely believed to belong to the Glossopteris plant. Delayed infrafascicular wood development results in deeply lobed wood cylinder geometries and formation of voids before forming an entire wood cylinder. We explored the functional significance of these traits by measuring the dimensions and geometries of the wood configurations and their potential importance for root mechanics and anchorage.We suggest that functional traits of Vertebraria indicate a tendency toward maximizing anchorage ability in a heterogeneous, weak soil where the number of fine to medium roots and their length were probably more important for anchorage than fewer stronger roots. The production of architecturally light roots in terms of biomass was also of an advantage for rapid and efficient establishment during short growth seasons of the high latitude location. Furthermore, the cross- to star-shaped configurations possibly represents a “smart” anchorage system for optimizing contact points within a highly heterogeneous peat swamp matrix.