Root proliferation in response to neighbouring roots in wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Zhu, Yonghe; Weiner, Jacob; Li, Feng Min

doi:10.1016/j.baae.2019.07.001

Cited by 22 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Early crop plants grown in heterogeneous stands may have had larger root systems due to natural selection for traits that allowed individual plants to usurp resources from their neighbours. However, continuous selection for crop genotypes that are collectively more productive and high yielding as a crop (a form of group-level selection) is expected to favour root traits that make individual plants less selfish (Zhu et al, 2019b ). This is supported by recent work that showed higher crop yields of modern wheat varieties are associated with reduced root numbers (Zhu et al, 2019a ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, there is no evidence here that varieties which respond differently to density in terms of NRN are able to yield more at higher densities. It may be hypothesised that the more modern varieties would exhibit a less competitive response to increased density and produce fewer nodal roots, as outlined above in relation to selection for decreased intra-crop competitive effects (Zhu et al, 2019b ). However, we found no relationship between NRN response to selection and variety release date, and therefore, the implications of this genotype-by-sowing rate interaction remain unclear.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of breeding history and crop management on the root architecture of wheat

et al. 2020

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Aims Selection for optimal root system architecture (RSA) is important to ensure genetic gains in the sustainable production of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Here we examine the hypothesis that past wheat breeding has led to changes in RSA and that future breeding efforts can focus directly on RSA to improve adaptation to target environments. Methods We conducted field trials using diverse wheat varieties, including modern and historic UK varieties and non-UK landraces, tested under contrasting tillage regimes (non-inversion tillage versus conventional ploughing) for two trial years or different seeding rates (standard versus high rate) for one trial year. We used field excavation, washing and measurement of root crowns (‘shovelomics’) to characterise RSA traits, including: numbers of seminal, crown and nodal roots per plant, and crown root growth angle. Results We found differences among genotypes for all root traits. Modern varieties generally had fewer roots per plant than historic varieties. On average, there were fewer crown roots and root angles were wider under shallow non-inversion tillage compared with conventional ploughing. Crown root numbers per plant also tended to be smaller at a high seeding rate compared with the standard. There were significant genotype-by-year, genotype-by-tillage and genotype-by-seeding-rate interactions for many root traits. Conclusions Smaller root systems are likely to be a result of past selection that facilitated historical yield increases by reducing below-ground competition within the crop. The effects of crop management practices on RSA depend on genotype, suggesting that future breeding could select for improved RSA traits in resource-efficient farming systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of breeding history and crop management on the root architecture of wheat

et al. 2020

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“…It is possible that the lowering root-shoot ratio could increase the water utilization efficiency and grain yield in arid and semiarid areas by decreasing its competitive ability and improving root efficiency (Ma et al, 2010). Reducing or eliminating the response of root proliferation to root interactions would be further potential to increase yields (Fang et al, 2010b;Zhu et al, 2019b). Interestingly, the DS rootstocks had lower root volume than the DR ones under WS condition, although they showed larger root dry mass.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of different genotypic roots to drought resistance in soybean by a grafting experiment

Cao

Chang-ling

et al. 2020

Plant Production Science

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Knowledge on the existing root diversity in germplasms has been emphasized for soybean breeding to improve drought resistance. Yet, evaluation of root diversity for vast genotypes still remains challenging. Here we investigated the contribution of different genotypic roots to drought resistance by a grafting experiment. A total of 22 cultivars were used as rootstocks to graft with scions of drought-sensitive cultivar L21. Water withholding was imposed during 15 days at podding stage in pot-culture experiments. The root-related traits were measured under wellwatered (WW) and water-stressed (WS) conditions. At maturity, the drought-resistance coefficient (DRC) was calculated as the yield under WS condition relative to WW yield. The DRC varied from 0.56 to 0.85 among grafts; thus, the rootstocks were categorized as drought-sensitive (DS), moderate (M) and drought-resistant (DR) types. The L21 scion grafted onto DR rootstocks resulted in higher DRC and greater drought resistance than those self-grafts. There were also significant interactions between water stress and genotype for root-related traits. With the increase of DRC, the plants showed linear increases in root length, root surface area, and root volume, but had linear decreases in root dry mass, root-shoot ratio and root tissue density under WS rather than WW conditions. We suggested that developed rooting with a low investment on dry matter identified by grafting experiments should be selected to improve drought resistance in soybean breeding.

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“…Early crop plants grown in heterogeneous stands may have had larger root systems due to natural selection for traits that allowed individual plants to usurp resources from their neighbours. However, continuous selection for crop genotoypes that are collectively more productive (a form of group-level selection) is expected to favour root traits that make individual plants less selfish (Zhu et al, 2019b). This is supported by recent work finding that higher crop yields of modern wheat varieties are associated with reduced root numbers (Zhu et al, 2019a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, there is no evidence here that varieties which respond differently to density in terms of NRN are able to yield more at higher densities. It may be hypothesised that the more modern varieties would exhibit a less competitive response to increased density and produce fewer nodal roots, as outlined above in relation to selection for decreased intra-crop competitive effects (Zhu et al, 2019b). However, we found no relationship between NRN response to selection and variety release date, and therefore, the implications of this genotype-by-sowing rate interaction remain unclear.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of breeding history and crop management on the root architecture of wheat

Fradgley

Evans²,

Biernaskie

et al. 2020

Preprint

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28Aims 29 Selection for optimal root system architecture (RSA) is important to ensure genetic gains in the sustainable production 30 of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Here we examine the idea that past wheat breeding has led to changes in RSA and 31 that future breeding efforts can focus directly on root traits to improve adaptation to a target environment. 32 Methods 33We conducted three field trials using diverse wheat varieties, including modern and historic UK varieties and non-UK 34 landraces, tested under contrasting tillage regimes (non-inversion tillage versus conventional ploughing) or different 35 seeding rates (standard rate versus high rate). We used field excavation, washing and measurement of root crowns 36 ('shovelomics') to characterise RSA traits, including: numbers of seminal, crown and nodal roots per plant, and crown 37 root growth angle. 38 Results 39We found large differences among genotypes for all root traits. Modern varieties generally had fewer roots per plant 40 than historic varieties. There were fewer crown roots and root angles were wider, on average, under shallow non-41 inversion tillage compared with conventional ploughing. Crown root numbers per plant also tended to be smaller at a 42 high seeding rate compared with the standard rate. There were significant genotype-by-year, genotype-by-tillage and 43 genotype-by-seeding-rate interactions for many root traits. 44 Conclusions 45Smaller root systems is likely to be a result of past selection and may have facilitated historical yield increases by 46 reducing below-ground competition within the crop. The effects of crop management practices on RSA depend on

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Root proliferation in response to neighbouring roots in wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Cited by 22 publications

References 25 publications

Effects of breeding history and crop management on the root architecture of wheat

Effects of breeding history and crop management on the root architecture of wheat

Contribution of different genotypic roots to drought resistance in soybean by a grafting experiment

Effects of breeding history and crop management on the root architecture of wheat

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