Rapid root responses of seedlings exposed to a postdrought water pulse

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Mediterranean‐type climate ecosystems experience significant variability in precipitation within and across years and may be characterized by periods of extreme drought followed by a brief, high‐intensity precipitation pulse. Rapid root growth could be a key factor in effective utilization of precipitation pulses, leading to higher rates of seedling establishment. Changes in root growth rate are rarely studied, however, and...