Unearthing belowground bud banks in fire-prone ecosystems

Author(s)

Pausas, Juli G. ^[1] ; Lamont, Byron B. ^[2] ; Paula, Susana ^[3] ; Appezzato-da-Gloria, Beatriz ^[4] ; Fidelis, Alessandra ^[5]

Affiliation

^[1] CIDE CSIC, C Naquera Km 4-5, Valencia 46113 - Spain

^[2] Curtin Univ, Dept Environm & Agr, POB U1987, Perth, WA 6845 - Australia

^[3] Univ Austral Chile, ICAEV, Campus Isla Teja, Casilla 567, Valdivia - Chile

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Biol, Av Padua Dias 11, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP, Vegetat Ecol Lab, Inst Biociencias, Av 24-A 1515, BR-13506900 Rio Claro - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: NEW PHYTOLOGIST; v. 217, n. 4, p. 1435-1448, MAR 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 44

Abstract

Despite long-time awareness of the importance of the location of buds in plant biology, research on belowground bud banks has been scant. Terms such as lignotuber, xylopodium and sobole, all referring to belowground bud-bearing structures, are used inconsistently in the literature. Because soil efficiently insulates meristems from the heat of fire, concealing buds below ground provides fitness benefits in fire-prone ecosystems. Thus, in these ecosystems, there is a remarkable diversity of bud-bearing structures. There are at least six locations where belowground buds are stored: roots, root crown, rhizomes, woody burls, fleshy swellings and belowground caudexes. These support many morphologically distinct organs. Given their history and function, these organs may be divided into three groups: those that originated in the early history of plants and that currently are widespread (bud-bearing roots and root crowns); those that also originated early and have spread mainly among ferns and monocots (nonwoody rhizomes and a wide range of fleshy underground swellings); and those that originated later in history and are strictly tied to fire-prone ecosystems (woody rhizomes, lignotubers and xylopodia). Recognizing the diversity of belowground bud banks is the starting point for understanding the many evolutionary pathways available for responding to severe recurrent disturbances. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/06743-0 - How does fire season affect Cerrado vegetation?
• Grantee: Alessandra Tomaselli Fidelis
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants