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Multipronged Phenotyping Approaches to Characterize Sugarcane Root Systems

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Published on: August 17, 2022

Fruit removal increases root-zone respiration in cucumber.

H-P Kläring¹, I Hauschild², A Heißner²

¹Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, D-14979 Groβbeeren, Germany klaering@igzev.de.

Annals of Botany

|October 11, 2014

Summary

Removing cucumber fruit, which are carbon sinks, doubles root zone respiration due to microbial decomposition of root exudates. Photosynthesis is unaffected, suggesting models should account for root carbon leakage.

Keywords:

Cucumber Cucumis sativus diffuse exudation fruit load microbial activity photosynthesis root zone CO2 gas exchange sink–source relations soluble carbohydrates transpiration

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Area of Science:

Plant Physiology
Horticultural Science
Crop Production

Background:

Fruit initiation and growth fluctuations in crops like cucumber (Cucumis sativus) are common.
Weak fruit sinks are hypothesized to cause low sink/source ratios, potentially inhibiting photosynthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of low sink-source ratios on photosynthesis and respiration in cucumber plants.
Specifically, to examine root-zone respiration under conditions of reduced fruit load.

Main Methods:

Cucumber plants were cultivated in aerated nutrient solutions.
Root containers were designed as open chambers for root-zone CO2 gas exchange measurement.
Simultaneous CO2 exchange measurements of shoot and root zones were conducted using a gas-exchange cuvette.

Main Results:

Removing all fruit (carbon sinks) doubled root-zone CO2 exchange within hours.
Shoot respiration remained unchanged.
Photosynthesis showed only marginal reduction, if any, at zero fruit load.

Conclusions:

Increased root-zone CO2 exchange is likely due to microbial decomposition of root exudates.
This carbon leakage via root exudation should be considered in cucumber production models.
End-product inhibition of photosynthesis is negligible in typical cucumber production systems.