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When organisms require the same limited resources within an environment, they may have to compete for them. Competition is a net-negative interaction. Even if two competing individuals or populations do not interact directly, the overall fitness of both competitors is lowered as a result of not having full access to the limited resource.
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Updated: Dec 25, 2025

An Optimized Rhizobox Protocol to Visualize Root Growth and Responsiveness to Localized Nutrients
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Belowground Competition Can Influence the Evolution of Root Traits.

Sara M Colom, Regina S Baucom

    The American Naturalist
    |March 29, 2020
    PubMed
    Summary

    Belowground competition between closely related plant species can drive the evolution of root traits. This study shows interspecific competition alters selection on root size and angle in morning glory species.

    Keywords:
    Ipomoeacharacter displacementnatural selectionroot trait evolution

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    Area of Science:

    • Plant Ecology
    • Evolutionary Biology
    • Plant Physiology

    Background:

    • Root traits are crucial for plant interactions and resource acquisition.
    • The evolutionary impact of belowground competition on root traits is understudied.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate if root traits evolve due to interspecific competition.
    • To examine how belowground competition influences selection patterns on root traits in closely related species.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized two closely related morning glory species, *Ipomoea purpurea* and *I. hederacea*, as a model system.
    • Assessed the effects of interspecific and intraspecific competition on root trait selection.

    Main Results:

    • Interspecific competition altered selection patterns for root angle in *I. hederacea* when competing with *I. purpurea*.
    • Interspecific competition altered selection patterns for root size in *I. purpurea* when competing with *I. hederacea*.
    • Intraspecific competition did not change selection on root traits within *I. hederacea*.

    Conclusions:

    • Belowground interspecific competition can drive the microevolution of root traits in natural populations.
    • These competitive interactions influence plant fitness and may shape plant community structure.