Effects of Water Regime on the Structure of Roots and Stems of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)

Abstract

Yield improvement of durum wheat is considerably limited by the expression of environmental abiotic factors. Water deficits are one of these limiting factors. Plants develop various strategies to tolerate the effects of water deficit. Some of such mechanisms might occur in the root and stem systems. The present study aimed to investigate some anatomical traits contributing to the drought tolerance in the durum wheat. The anatomical variations of the meristem of roots and stems, as a response to water deficit, were evaluated. The results indicated that the enhancement of the intensity of water deficit was accompanied by profound structural changes in the piliferous zone of roots. Water deficit caused a significant decrease in the diameter of the newly formed adventitious roots, which can be explained by a reduction in the thickness of the cortical parenchyma, through the reduction of cell size. This action was usually a contrary effect in the principal adventitious roots. The study also showed that increasing the intensity of water deficit reduced the diameter of vessels in the primary xylem, thereby increasing the hydraulic resistance of roots and lowering the flow of sap.

Integrating Transcriptional, Metabolic, and Physiological Responses to Drought Stress in Ilex paraguariensis Roots

“…Using scanning electron microscopy, we observed a variation in the root hair zone differentiation of stressed roots, placing them closer to the root apex (Figure 1). These results agree with those reported by Labdelli et al [15]. Decreased soil water availability promotes significant changes in the piliferous layer, presuming an early maturation of the cortical cells, emitting root hairs to facilitate root penetration through mucilage exudation and rhizospheric microorganism interaction [14].…”

Morpho-Anatomical Modulation of Seminal Roots in Response to Water Deficit in Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum)

“…The increase in root length under water deficit observed in this study allowed the plants to reach the bottoms of the cultivation cylinders, which were wetter, and access an optimal water supply, allowing them to maintain high relative leaf water content. The progressive drying of the substrate from the surface results in greater moisture at depth, which modulates root growth length and has been described as hydrotropism in some works [ 12 , 43 ].…”