Thread by @frantecol

In this study, we show that it's not a good idea to wash roots and immediately collect #root exudates: because of the washing-induced root damage, roots are losing a lot of C and exudate profiles are likely not accurate. (1/6)

sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

Letting the roots recover for a few days before collecting exudates gets rid of this artefact, and allows distinguishing between species and re-application of exudates for mechanistic experiments. (2/6)

Using this 'hybrid' root exudate collection method we were able to show that root traits explain root exudate quantity and quality. (3/6)

besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.11…

Also, using this method, we showed that root exudates from plants that experienced drought trigger more soil respiration, potentially resulting in an ongoing loss of soil carbon after drought. (4/6)

nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.11…

This is great work done by @angiestraathof @graefox @Howbeer @RoyGoodacre @Ecology_Holly Alex Williams and more, and there's more to come to really get to the bottom of the role of root exudation in ecosystem functioning, especially under #drought!

nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.11…
(5/6)

And also, how we can use this understanding to make food production systems more #sustainable and resilient to #climate change. (6/6)

science.sciencemag.org/content/368/64…

👆thread on all our recent work on #root #exudates and their role in ecosystem functioning!

Funded by the @BBSRC 😊