The research presented in this thesis investigated the functional morphology in root<br />systems in relation to their role in providing anchorage and stability for the plant. The<br />anchorage of different types of root systems was investigated as well as the influence of<br />several environmental factors on their development. The research presented in this study<br />was completed by carrying out a series of modelling, glasshouse and field experiments<br />using physical models and real plants.<br />Model experiments showed that solid shapes like bulbs are very well suited to resist<br />vertical upward forces, i.e. uprooting, and shed some light on the mechanism of<br />anchorage in bulbs. The results of this laboratory study showed that the concept of<br />optimal bulb shape for resisting uprooting is viable. Uprooting tests on real bulb plants<br />confirmed the theoretical predictions about it, and showed the importance of bulbs in<br />anchorage. This study also proved that the soil type is very important when considering<br />the anchorage of solid forms such as the bulbs.<br />A second model study showed that the simplest models of tap root-dominated root<br />systems increase their resistance to overturning with the third and second power of the<br />embedment depth in cohesionless and in cohesive soil respectively. Anchorage strength<br />of a root system dominated by a tap root will be maximised with minimum investment<br />in structural material if the rigid tap root is extended to the largest possible depth.<br />Glasshouse experiments investigated the effects of soil compaction and temperature,<br />two of the most important environmental factors, on the axial and lateral development<br />and growth of the root systems of two species of young pines. It was shown that the rate<br />of root axial development in both investigated species decreased with an increase in soil<br />compaction whereas the lateral proliferation of their roots systems was not significantly<br />affected by soil consistency. A temperature of around 15°C seemed to be optimal for the<br />root elongation rate since the increase in axial length of the roots of both species was<br />largest at this temperature.<br />The effect of mechanical stimulation as a factor in shaping the root systems of plants<br />was also investigated. Apart from the changes caused to the parts of the tree above<br />ground, unidirectional periodical flexing induced an increase in total root CSA and<br />larger biomass allocation to the roots parallel to the plane of flexing which, in turn,<br />resulted in a larger number of major lateral roots with larger CSA in the plane of<br />flexing.<br />Mechanical and morphological field studies on two Pinus species investigated the<br />anchorage of plate root systems and showed that lateral roots in older trees are not the<br />major source of root anchorage in either of the species; although in both species a<br />certain asymmetry in the distribution of major lateral root CSA was recorded, it was not<br />significantly correlated to the asymmetry in anchorage.