Ecological Adaptation of Reaumuria Soongorica Root System Architecture to Arid Environment
The architecture parameters of Reaumuria soongorica root system at different habitats in Gansu Province, China were analyzed to examine its ecological adaptability to arid environment. Results show that： （1） Topological indices of R. soongorica root system are small at all the habitats, and root branching pattern tends to be dichotomous. The topological indices of R. soongorica root system gradually increase in the Minqin windblown sand region and the Zhangye gobi region in Hexi Corridor, which indicates that drought makes root branching pattern tend to be herringbone-like. （2） Fractal dimension values of R. soon- gorica root system all are small in the Minqin windblown sand region and the Zhangye gobi region in Hexi Corridor, and the values are 1. 1778 and 1. 1169, respectively, which indicates that the fractal characteris- tics are not obvious in these areas. While the fractal dimension values are relative large in Jiuzhoutai semi- arid hilly and gully region of the Loess Plateau, which indicates that the R. soongorica root system has bet- ter fractal characteristics in this region than in the other regions. （3） Total branching ratios of the R. soon- gorica root system in arid region of Hexi Corridor are smaller than that in the Jiuzhoutai semi-arid hilly and gully region of the Loess Plateau. It shows that the root branching ability in the semi-arid region is stron- ger, and it decreases at some degree with drought increase. （4） The root link lengths of R. soongorica root system are long at all the habitats, but there are significant differences between the different habitats. The root link length at the Minqin windblown sand region is the longest. It is concluded that R. soongorica a- dapts to arid environment by decreasing root branching, decreasing root overlap and increasing the root link length, which makes its root branching pattern tend to be herringbone-like to reduce compete degree in root internal environment for nutrients and to enhance root absorption rate to nutrients, and ensure the effective nutrition space, thus it can absorb enough water and nutrients in resource-poor settings to ensure its normal physiological requirements.
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