I have performed several experiments with aquatic macrophytes and one species, Ludwigia peploides, had red roots. What could be the reason for this? A similar species L. grandiflora did not show these red roots. Is it because of nutrients, oxygen...?
Some aquatic/wetland plants get red roots because the air that diffuses from the roots oxidizes iron, giving them a rusty color.
I have seen this color in aquatic roots, too. After looking at the photo you sent, it doesn't really have the red-orange or red-brown color associated with iron plaque. I have a guess as to the cause. It could be a photochemical pigment resulting from light on the roots. For example,it might be Anthocyanin, which could give this color in acidic water. Since it is related to photoinhibition, I'm not sure why it would be in the roots.
If that possible if there was an endophytes on your plant roots?? Just a guess
Does anyone here know a list of the colors of grasses generally? I am just scanning different grasses and saw this:
White roots have: Agropyron elongatum and Arrhenatherum elatius
Brownish roots: Dactylis glomerata.
THX
See here the young snow white roots of Arrhenatherum elatius (Glatthafer)
Under the microscope, I saw plenty of bacteria on the roots, even the iron-oxidizng bacterium Leptothrix discophora.
In the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina the portions of roots in the stream of Platanus Occidentalis are red. It is striking and I always wondered what caused it. These streams are quite basic.
That sort of mitigates against iron oxide because oxidation of iron releases H+
I just discovered this question and after seeing the answers, I would like to add to the list of plants with naturally-occurring red-colored roots. My experience with growing Philodendron "Painted Lady" (cultivar of Philodendron erubescens) has shown it to be one of the plants whose majority of the root surface naturally has a reddish hue. More specifically, I have observed that the older roots transition to a reddish-brown tone over time, while the newer roots retain a brighter color, with their tips being the most vivid red part. (of course this does not apply to trichomes as they appear white).
Not sure if there is a genetic relationship here since the stem of this cultivar is red as well, but that phenomenon is not as unusual as the root color trait.
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