Effects of daylength and temperature on root elongation in tundra graminoids

Effects of soil temperature and daylength on root elongation of Carex aquatilis, Dupontia fischeri, and Eriophorum angustifolium were studied under both field and phytotron conditions. Late season decrease in root elongation rate and cessation of root elongation in Dupontia and Eriophorum are shown to be controlled by decreasing daylength. During the growing season, low temperature is not a direct factor in limiting root growth in any of the three species despite the presence of permafrost and low soil temperatures in the shallow thawed soil layer. In the phytotron, temperature-dependence of root elongation is related to experimental conditions characterized by continuous light. Plants of all three species are capable of root growth at near-freezing temperatures.