Compensatory growth in cereal root systems

Abstract

The highly co-ordinated development of root systems in uniform environments implies the existence of complex mechanisms for the regulation of growth. I t suggests t h a t in a heterogeneous environment development of a particular member depends not only upon the conditions in its immediate surroundings but also upon the growth of the remainder of the root system. E x p e r i m e n t s have been carried out in which normal patterns of development were disturbed by the removal or desiccation of parts of the root system or its partition between environments of different temperature. The results demonstrated a clear dependence of the development of any part of the root system upon t h a t of the remainder and indicated that there were a range of possible interactions between members.

Growth and Panicle Characters of Wheat with a Single Primary Seminal Root allowed to Grow

“…This was consistent with previous reports (Crossett et al, 1975;Fujii, 1961;Katayama et al, 1955). Thus, the seminal root, which was generally regarded as an organ to support plant growth only during the seedling stage, was able to maintain its function until the ripening period.…”

“…If more fertilizer were applied, the dry weight accumulation before booting of the treated plants may have been lower than the control, and grain weight may have been more seriously reduced. In studies, where nodal roots were excised, (Crossett et al, 1975 ;Fujii, 1961 ;Katayama et al, 1955;Takiguchi, 1934), the growth of the aboveground parts tended to be reduced even from early growth stages. The method of root pruning may have been more detrimental than the method used here, in which root growth was suppressed without excision.…”

An image processing method to measure plant root traits

“…This value is comparable to the data obtained microscopically, namely, 0.40 to 0.43 mm (Crossett et al 1975), 0.26 to 0.34 mm (Hackett 1969), and 0.28 to 0.32 mm (Russell and Clarkson 1976) for water-cultured barley (Hordeurn vulgare), 0.33 to 0.41 mm for field-grown cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) (Melhuish and Lang 1968), 0.09-0.51 mm for oats (A vena sativa), O. 11-0.57 mm for winter rye (Secale cerale), and 0.09-0.48 mm for Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) (Dittmer 1938); and 0.1-1.5 mm for primary roots, 0.07-0.3 mm for thick secondary roots, and less than 0.08 mm for thin secondary roots in rice (reviewed in Morita et al 1988).…”

An Architectural Approach to the Comparative Ecology of Plant Root Systems

“…Hackett (1972) found up to 10 laterals cm~ô f main axis in NOg'-supplemented zones of barley compared to five to six in NOg^^-free zones. These represent internal link lengths of 1 to 2 mm, while Crossett, Campbell, & Stewart (1975) found 2 to 3 mm to be typical for barley. Similarly, Dittmer (1938) recorded values from 2 to 20 mm in a range of field crop plants and Lyford (1975) found 2 mm to be the average for both yellow birch and red oak, with a range from 0*5 to 10 mm in field samples, as compared to 2 to 3 mm for a number of trees grown in a rhizotron.…”