Low phosphorus (P) availability in acid soils is one of the main limiting factors in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) production. Reconstruction of the root system architecture (RSA) is a vital mechanism for crop low P adaption, while the RSA of sugarcane has not been studied in detail because of its complex root system. In this study, reconstruction of the RSA and its relationship with P acquisition were investigated in a P-efficient sugarcane genotype ROC22 (R22) and two P-inefficient genotypes Yunzhe 03-103 (YZ) and Japan 2 (JP). An efficient dynamic observation room was developed to monitor the spatiotemporal alternation of sugarcane root length density (RLD) and root distribution in soil with heterogeneous P locations. The sugarcane RSA was reconstructed under P deficiency, and R22 had an earlier response than YZ and JP and presented an obvious feature of root shallowness. Compared with the normal P condition, the shallow RLD was increased by 112% in R22 under P deficiency while decreased by 26% in YZ and not modified in JP. Meanwhile, R22 exhibited a shallower root distribution than YZ and JP under P deficiency, supported by 51 and 24% greater shallow RLD, and 96 and 67% greater shallow root weight, respectively. The ratio of shallow RLD to total RLD in R22 was 91% greater than YZ, and the ratio of shallow root weight to total root weight in R22 was greater than that of YZ and JP by 94 and 30%, respectively. As a result, R22 had a higher shoot P accumulation than YZ and JP, which thereby increased the relative leaf sheath inorganic P concentration (RLPC) by 47 and 56%, relative shoot biomass (RSB) by 36 and 33%, and relative cane weight (RCW) by 31 and 36%, compared with YZ and JP under P deficiency, respectively. We verified the reliability and efficiency of a dynamic observation room and demonstrated that a shallower root distribution contributed to improving topsoil foraging, P acquisition, and low P adaption under P deficiency in sugarcane. Therefore, a shallower root distribution merits consideration as an evaluation trait for breeding P efficient sugarcane genotypes and genetic improvement.
Coexistence of ammonium (NH4+) with manganese (Mn) in acid soils may facilitate the alleviation of Mn toxicity to plants. However, the effect of NH4+ on Mn toxicity and the corresponding mechanisms are unclear. In this study, the effects of NH4+ and nitrate (NO3‐) on Mn toxicity, cell wall properties, and nitric oxide (NO) signaling in sugarcane were compared. NH4+ alleviated Mn‐induced chlorosis in sugarcane seedlings and increased seedling biomass compared with NO3‐. Exogenous application of NH4+ decreased the root cell wall pectin content and methyl esterase (PME) activity, but increased the degree of root pectin esterification (PMD). These changes were accompanied by reductions in the Mn content in roots, leaves, root cell wall, and cell wall pectin. An analysis of adsorption kinetic revealed less Mn‐adsorption capacity in cell walls extracted from NH4+‐fed than from NO3‐‐fed sugarcane. Mn induced NO accumulation in sugarcane roots, but NH4+‐fed seedlings accumulated less NO. Exogenous application of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside increased the Mn content of root cell wall pectin in NH4+‐fed sugarcane, while the NO scavenger 2‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxid decreased the Mn content in NO3‐‐fed sugarcane. These treatments eliminated the difference in the pectin Mn content between NH4+‐fed and NO3‐‐fed sugarcane, as did a similar treatment with the nitrate reductase inhibitor tungstate, which decreased root cell wall pectin content and NO accumulation. These results suggest that (i) NH4+ alleviates Mn toxicity in sugarcane by reducing root pectin accumulation and root cell wall PME activity, thereby increasing cell wall PMD and decreasing both the Mn‐binding capacity of cell wall and Mn accumulation, and (ii) NO mediates the accumulation of both pectin and Mn in response to different forms of nitrogen. The physiological mechanisms underlying the alleviation of ammonium on Mn phytotoxicity were clarified, which provided important implication for agricultural production and ecosystem functioning in acid soil.
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