@article{fdi:010086869,
  title = {{E}ffect of substrate fertility on tank-bromeliad performances},
  author = {{L}afont {R}apnouil, {T}. and {C}oste, {S}. and {G}oret, {J}. {Y}. and {J}ulien, {F}. and {S}tahl, {C}. and {L}eroy, {C}{\'e}line},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{P}urpose {M}embers of the plant family {B}romeliaceae can uptake nutrients directly from their leaves via leaf absorbing trichomes and their roots have long been reduced to anchorage function, thus overlooked. {R}ecently, evidence has accumulated for a significant role for the roots of some species of tank bromeliads in both water and nutrients absorption. {H}owever, to date, little attention has been paid to the importance of the substrate fertility for the structure of the roots and the growth and performances of tank bromeliads.{M}ethods {T}his study investigated the effect of substrate fertility on {A}echmea aquilega regarding leaf and root traits, nutrient content, and growth. {S}eeds of this tank bromeliad were sowed in a greenhouse in {F}rench {G}uiana in three different substrates: a nutrient-poor, a nutrient-rich and a mixed substrate. {T}he performances of 15-month-old {A}. aquilega were assessed by measuring leaf and root traits related to nutrient acquisition and resources capture.{R}esults {W}e show that plants growing in nutrient-poor substrate grew twice slower and were smaller than plants grown on the nutrient-rich substrate with fewer leaves and roots, lower total dry mass, and smaller leaves and root length. {O}verall, 70% of measured traits responded significantly to the experimental treatments indicating that the response of {A}. aquilega to nutrient availability is a combination of physiological processes, leaf and root structure, and chemistry.{C}onclusion {T}his study is the first to show that the fertility of the substrate on which the bromeliad {A}. aquilega grows has a strong and lasting effect on the plant performances and may be a relevant factor for bromeliad ecology.},
  keywords = {{L}eaf traits ; {P}lant performance ; {R}oot traits ; {R}oot uptake ; {S}ubstrate fertility ; {T}ank bromeliad},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}lant and {S}oil},
  volume = {[{E}arly access]},
  numero = {},
  pages = {[16 p.]},
  ISSN = {0032-079{X}},
  year = {2023},
  DOI = {10.1007/s11104-022-05816-4},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010086869},
}