Key message

Vegetative regeneration and horizontal spreading, supported by a large bud bank dependent on rhizome length, are specific functions of Quercus coccifera rhizomes, while anchoring and storing reserves are also root functions.

Abstract

The ability to reproduce vegetatively through rhizomes has mainly been ignored in woody species and the roles attributed to them are little documented, despite their importance at the ecological level. In this study, the author provides basic information on the rhizomatous species Quercus coccifera. Specifically, three plots from a Mediterranean basin garrigue dominated by Q. coccifera were excavated to a depth of 30 cm. Their belowground components and spatial distribution were described, and the belowground biomass, starch concentration, specific root and rhizome lengths and bud density were measured according to five diameter classes. A conspicuous, dense network of rhizomes comprised the greater portion of the total belowground biomass (68%) but the lower portion of its total length (39%), with a corresponding abundant presence of large rhizomes and a greater length of fine roots. The roots had the higher mean starch concentration, but within the five diameter classes, neither the starch concentration differed between roots and rhizomes nor did the specific length of the roots and rhizomes differ for any of the diameter classes. The rhizomes had a high bud density, which depends on their growth in length. In conclusion, along with the roots, the rhizomes play a significant role in anchoring Q. coccifera to the soil and storing reserves. Moreover, the high bud density found in rhizomes supports their specific function in vegetative regeneration, while also highlighting the bud bank’s dependence on rhizome growth in length and thus its role in plant horizontal spreading.

中文翻译：

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更好地了解根状茎在成熟木本植物中的作用：球果栎地下系统

关键信息

取决于根茎长度的大芽库支持的营养更新和水平扩展是球根栎的根茎的特定功能，而锚固和储存储备也是根系功能。

抽象

通过根状茎无性繁殖的能力在木本物种中主要被忽略，尽管它们在生态学上很重要，但很少有文献记载归因于它们的作用。在这项研究中，作者提供了有关根瘤菌栎（Quercus coccifera）的基本信息。具体来说，来自地中海盆地海峡的三块地块被球孢白蚁占主导地位挖掘到30厘米的深度。描述了它们的地下成分和空间分布，并根据五个直径类别测量了地下生物量，淀粉浓度，比根和根茎长度以及芽密度。根茎的一个明显，密集的网络包括地下总生物量的较大部分（68％），而其总长度的下半部分（39％），相应地大量存在大根茎和较大的细根。根部的平均淀粉浓度较高，但在五个直径类别中，根部和根茎之间的淀粉浓度均无差异，而任何直径类别的根部和根茎的具体长度均无差异。根茎的芽密度高，这取决于它们的长度。结论，球花菜要在土壤中储藏。此外，在根茎中发现的高芽密度支持其在营养再生中的特定功能，同时也突出了芽库对根茎长度增长的依赖性，并因此突出了其在植物水平扩散中的作用。