Spread of the Root System as Indicator for Evaluating Lodging Resistance of Wheat¹

Abstract

A technique for estimating the spreading angle of wheat roots is described and various methods of testing and sampling are discussed. The use of gravel beds with 3 or 4 replicates consisting of a single 1‐m row per variety or line and samples of 5 to 10 plants per row is recommended. High correlations were found between varietal means of spreading angles and lodging rates from a series of field trials grown under various environmental conditions. Spreading angle estimates may serve as a method of selecting for lodging resistance.

Effect of Planting Density on Root Lodging Resistance and Its Relationship to Nodal Root Growth Characteristics in Maize (Zea mays L.)

“…Only the elongated roots that grew into the soil were considered when the number of roots on internodes P8, P7, P6, and P5 were measured. The average angle of the roots on those internodes, defined as the deflection from the vertical, was measured at a point 5cm from axile root-internode junction using a protractor (Pinthus, 1967). The root diameters on internodes P8, P7, P6 and P5 were measured at a point 5cm from the axile root-internode junction using a digital caliper.…”

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) of stem strength and related traits in a doubled-haploid population of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

“…However, Atkins (1938) and Pinthus (1967) found no significant correlation between stem diameter and lodging resistance in wheat. Kelbert et al (2004) conducted a study to determine the association between culm anatomy and lodging using 13 spring wheat cultivars differing in lodging susceptibility, and also did not find stem diameter to be a significant character related to lodging resistance.…”

Morphological Traits Associated with the Quantitative Trait Locus for Lodging Tolerance in Soybean

“…In rice, lodging tolerance is typically conferred by promoting the growth of deep roots (Terashima et al, 1994;Furuhata and Arima, 2007). In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), the root elongation angle has been implicated in lodging tolerance, with greater lodging tolerance being associated with wider root elongation angles (Pinthus, 1967;Oyanagi et al, 2001). In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), the root elongation angle has been implicated in lodging tolerance, with greater lodging tolerance being associated with wider root elongation angles (Pinthus, 1967;Oyanagi et al, 2001).…”

“…Rice cultivars resistant to stem lodging, despite having long stems, tend to have an excellent breaking strength at the basal part of the main stem (Okawa and Ishihara, 1992). In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), the root elongation angle has been implicated in lodging tolerance, with greater lodging tolerance being associated with wider root elongation angles (Pinthus, 1967;Oyanagi et al, 2001). Numerous traits related to lodging have been identified in soybean as well.…”