Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is one of the most important nutrients that significantly limit growth and metabolism. Cluster roots (CR) or proteoid roots are dense clusters of fine rootlets produced around a main axis and are found in most species of the Proteaceae family and also in some members of Fabaceae (e.g., Lupinus albus), Cyperaceae, and Restionaceae, among others. The morphology, physiology, and functions of cluster roots have been studied mainly in L. albus, in Australian and South African Proteaceae species, and recently in South American Proteaceae. CR increase nutrient uptake using their high surface area to absorb nutrients as well as by carboxylate, acid phosphatase, and/or protease exudation. Carboxylates exuded from roots promote P mobilization from the soil matrix by ligand exchange. Also, acid phosphatase can hydrolyze organic P compounds, which increases its availability. The main inducing factor of cluster root, carboxylate, and acid phosphatase exudation is P deficiency in shoots, but its formation is also influenced by N and Fe deficiency. Malate and citrate are the most frequent carboxylates exuded, with variable composition and exudation rates depending on leaf P starvation, P soil distribution, and composition. CR are ephemeral, with similar formation kinetics (20–30 days) among species. Mature CR are the stage that exhibits the highest carboxylate exudation rate. Active CR cells exude H+ and organic anions (mainly citrate and malate) separately to the rhizosphere, leading to acidification. Citrate accumulation has been associated with an increase in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) activity. The role of CR of Proteaceae species in nutrient acquisition in harsh environments is discussed, considering recently published results.
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Acknowledgments
Chilean National Science Council Grant 1130440 FONDECYT. Dr. Norman Hüner that give facilities to study E. coccineum CR anatomy, from The University of Western Ontario, Canada. We would also like to thank Dr. Hans Lambers and Dr. Michael Shane from University of Western Australia, who gave us facilities to study G. avellana CR on hydroponics.
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Zúñiga-Feest, A., Delgado, M., Bustos, Á. (2014). Cluster Roots. In: Morte, A., Varma, A. (eds) Root Engineering. Soil Biology, vol 40. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54276-3_16
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