Root architecture for improved resource capture: trade-offs in complex environments

Bom, Frederik van der; Williams, Alwyn; Bell, Michael J.

doi:10.1093/jxb/eraa324

Cited by 59 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…Alterations to root growth and RSA are critical adaptive strategies of crops to cope with drought, soil infertility, and other edaphic stresses [16]. Therefore, it is important to screen and breed crop cultivars with better RSA, which can adapt to edaphic stresses and have improved nutrient and water efficiency [17,18]. The identification of RSA conferring efficiencies in resource acquisition and adaptation to edaphic stresses has increased in research and breeding programs [19,20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Root System Architecture Traits in Diverse Soybean Genotypes Using a Semi-Hydroponic System

Liu

Begum

et al. 2021

Plants

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Phenotypic variation and correlations among root traits form the basis for selecting and breeding soybean varieties with efficient access to water and nutrients and better adaptation to abiotic stresses. Therefore, it is important to develop a simple and consistent system to study root traits in soybean. In this study, we adopted the semi-hydroponic system to investigate the variability in root morphological traits of 171 soybean genotypes popularized in the Yangtze and Huaihe River regions, eastern China. Highly diverse phenotypes were observed: shoot height (18.7–86.7 cm per plant with a median of 52.3 cm); total root length (208–1663 cm per plant with a median of 885 cm); and root mass (dry weight) (19.4–251 mg per plant with a median of 124 mg). Both total root length and root mass exhibited significant positive correlation with shoot mass (p ≤ 0.05), indicating their relationship with plant growth and adaptation strategies. The nine selected traits contributed to one of the two principal components (eigenvalues > 1), accounting for 78.9% of the total genotypic variation. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis separated the 171 genotypes into five major groups based on these root traits. Three selected genotypes with contrasting root systems were validated in soil-filled rhizoboxes (1.5 m deep) until maturity. Consistent ranking of the genotypes in some important root traits at various growth stages between the two experiments indicates the reliability of the semi-hydroponic system in phenotyping root trait variability at the early growth stage in soybean germplasms.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Root System Architecture Traits in Diverse Soybean Genotypes Using a Semi-Hydroponic System

Liu

Begum

et al. 2021

Plants

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“…Noteworthy phenomena, usual nitrate and ammonium are the mobile nutrient that tends to be concentrated in the soil depth layers, but the brace root distribution in the soil superficial seems difficult for N uptake by the brace root. However, the interaction of late N application and moist soil with low-infiltration capacity tends to the topsoil ( van der Bom et al, 2020 ). In this study, fertilizers were applied for the second time at 10 days before flowering (late N application).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gravity Reduced Nitrogen Uptake via the Regulation of Brace Unilateral Root Growth in Maize Intercropping

Chen¹,

Liang²,

Bawa³

et al. 2021

Front. Plant Sci.

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Water, nutrient, light, and interspecific facilitation regulation of soil physicochemical properties and root morphology modulate nitrogen (N) uptake in cereal and legume intercropping systems. However, maize root morphological plasticity and N uptake capability response to gravity in the intercropping system remains to be determined. In this study, maize was grown under 20 cm (I20), 40 cm (I40), and 60 cm (I60) of narrow row spacing in an intercropping system (maize–soybean strip relay intercropping) and equal row spacing of monoculture (M) in a 2-year field experiment. As a supplementary for the field experiment, maize root barrier and plant inclination experiments were conducted. Plant inclination, brace root morphology, N uptake, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) level, IAA synthesis genes, and grain yield were assessed. The result showed that the plant inclination increased with decreasing narrow row spacing in intercropping system. Also, the brace unilateral root growth ratio (BURR) increased with increasing plant inclination in intercropping treatments. The plant inclination experiment showed the BURR achieved 94% after inclination at 45°. BURR tended to be positively correlated (p = 0.00) with plant inclination. Thus, gravity (plant inclination) causes brace unilateral root growth. The IAA concentration of stem nodes in the wide row increased with increasing plant inclination, while the IAA accumulation decreased in the narrow row. The Zmvt2 and ZM2G141383 genes (associated with IAA biosynthesis) were highly expressed in a wide row. There was a strong correlation (p = 0.03) between the IAA concentration of wide row and the BURR. Therefore, gravity regulates the IAA level, which affects BURR. In addition, the brace root number, volume, and surface area were decreased when BURR was increased. Subsequently, the leaf N, cob N, and kernel N accumulation were reduced. These organs N and grain yield in I60 were not significantly different as compared to the control treatment. The excessive brace unilateral root growth was not conducive to N uptake and increased yield. Our results suggest that gravity is essential in regulating root morphology plasticity by regulating IAA levels and decreasing N uptake capacity. Furthermore, these results indicate that plant inclination can regulate root phenotype and N uptake of maize and by adjusting the spacing of narrow maize row, we can improve the N uptake and yield of the maize–soybean strip relay-intercropping system.

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“…Plants that present a shallower root system, greater root proliferation of adventitious roots reduced secondary root development and radial expansion, and greater root elongation, absorb P more efficiently (Lynch, 2011). Plants with these traits allow the root spread for soil regions richer in P, reduce competition among roots of the same plant and explore the soil with a lower metabolic cost per unit length (Li et al, 2016;Lynch, 2019;Van Der Bom et al, 2020).…”

Section: Codementioning

confidence: 99%

Sorghum hybrids grown in hydroponics contrast for phosphorus use efficiency

et al. 2024

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Phosphorus (P) use efficiency is crucial for sorghum production. P acquisition efficiency is the most important component of P use efficiency. The early-stage evaluation of plant development is a useful tool for identifying P-efficient genotypes. This study aimed to identify sorghum hybrids that are efficient in P use efficiency and assess the genetic diversity among hybrids based on traits related to P acquisition efficiency. Thus, 38 sorghum hybrids and two inbred lines (checks) were evaluated under low and high P in a paper pouch system with nutrient solution. Biomass and root traits related to P efficiency were measured. There was no interaction between genotypes and P levels concerning all evaluated traits. The biomass and root traits, except root diameter, presented smaller means under low P than high P. Efficient and inefficient hybrids under each P level were identified. The genetic diversity assessment grouped these genotypes in different clusters. The hybrids AG1090, MSK326, AG1060, 1G100, AS 4639, DKB 540, and DKB 590 were superior under low-P and high-P. Hybrids SC121, 1236020 e 1167017 presented the lowest means than all other hybrids, under both conditions. The evaluated hybrids showed phenotypic diversity for traits related to P acquisition, such as root length and root surface area, which can be useful for establishing selection strategies for sorghum breeding programs and increasing P use efficiency.

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Root architecture for improved resource capture: trade-offs in complex environments

Cited by 59 publications

References 95 publications

Characterization of Root System Architecture Traits in Diverse Soybean Genotypes Using a Semi-Hydroponic System

Characterization of Root System Architecture Traits in Diverse Soybean Genotypes Using a Semi-Hydroponic System

Gravity Reduced Nitrogen Uptake via the Regulation of Brace Unilateral Root Growth in Maize Intercropping

Sorghum hybrids grown in hydroponics contrast for phosphorus use efficiency

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