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Water Uptake By Older Roots: Evidence From Desert Succulents, Gretchen North, E. Baker
Water Uptake By Older Roots: Evidence From Desert Succulents, Gretchen North, E. Baker
Gretchen North
Desert succulents are renowned for their rapid recovery of shoot function after periods of drought as a result of shoot succulence, root–shoot interactions, and key root properties. Near the base of the shoot, the proximal (generally older) roots appear to play a major role in the rapid uptake and delivery of water, especially after a period of soil drying when the rest of the root system has a lower hydraulic conductance. In all of the cacti, agaves, and yuccas examined to date, hydraulic conductance for the proximal root zone is unexpectedly high. Substantial water uptake by older roots of cacti …