1
|
Rajput P, Urfan M, Sharma S, Hakla HR, Nandan B, Das R, Roychowdhury R, Chowdhary SP. Natural variation in root traits identifies significant SNPs and candidate genes for phosphate deficiency tolerance in Zea mays L. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2024; 176:e14396. [PMID: 38887929 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.14396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is a crucial macronutrient required for normal plant growth. Its effective uptake from the soil is a trait of agronomic importance. Natural variation in maize (339 accessions) root traits, namely root length and number of primary, seminal, and crown roots, root and shoot phosphate (Pi) contents, and root-to-shoot Pi translocation (root: shoot Pi) under normal (control, 40 ppm) and low phosphate (LP, 1 ppm) conditions, were used for genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The Bayesian-information and Linkage-disequilibrium Iteratively Nested Keyway (BLINK) model of GWAS provided 23 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 12 relevant candidate genes putatively linked with root Pi, root: shoot Pi, and crown root number (CRN) under LP. The DNA-protein interaction analysis of Zm00001d002842, Zm00001d002837, Zm00001d002843 for root Pi, and Zm00001d044312, Zm00001d045550, Zm00001d025915, Zm00001d044313, Zm00001d051842 for root: shoot Pi, and Zm00001d031561, Zm00001d001803, and Zm00001d001804 for CRN showed the presence of potential binding sites of key transcription factors like MYB62, bZIP11, ARF4, ARF7, ARF10 and ARF16 known for induction/suppression of phosphate starvation response (PHR). The in-silico RNA-seq analysis revealed up or down-regulation of candidate genes along with key transcription factors of PHR, while Uniprot analysis provided genetic relatedness. Candidate genes that may play a role in P uptake and root-to-shoot Pi translocation under LP are proposed using common PHR signaling components like MYB62, ARF4, ARF7, ARF10, ARF16, and bZIP11 to induce changes in root growth in maize. Candidate genes may be used to improve low P tolerance in maize using the CRISPR strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prakriti Rajput
- Plant Physiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu, India
| | - Mohammad Urfan
- Plant Physiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu, India
| | - Shubham Sharma
- Plant Physiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu, India
| | - Haroon Rashid Hakla
- Plant Physiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu, India
| | - Brij Nandan
- Agronomy Division, SKUAST-JAMMU, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Ranjan Das
- Department of Crop Physiology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India
| | - Rajib Roychowdhury
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) - Volcani Institute, Rishon Lezion, Israel
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Berrigan EM, Wang L, Carrillo H, Echegoyen K, Kappes M, Torres J, Ai-Perreira A, McCoy E, Shane E, Copeland CD, Ragel L, Georgousakis C, Lee S, Reynolds D, Talgo A, Gonzalez J, Zhang L, Rajurkar AB, Ruiz M, Daniels E, Maree L, Pariyar S, Busch W, Pereira TD. Fast and Efficient Root Phenotyping via Pose Estimation. PLANT PHENOMICS (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2024; 6:0175. [PMID: 38629082 PMCID: PMC11020144 DOI: 10.34133/plantphenomics.0175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Image segmentation is commonly used to estimate the location and shape of plants and their external structures. Segmentation masks are then used to localize landmarks of interest and compute other geometric features that correspond to the plant's phenotype. Despite its prevalence, segmentation-based approaches are laborious (requiring extensive annotation to train) and error-prone (derived geometric features are sensitive to instance mask integrity). Here, we present a segmentation-free approach that leverages deep learning-based landmark detection and grouping, also known as pose estimation. We use a tool originally developed for animal motion capture called SLEAP (Social LEAP Estimates Animal Poses) to automate the detection of distinct morphological landmarks on plant roots. Using a gel cylinder imaging system across multiple species, we show that our approach can reliably and efficiently recover root system topology at high accuracy, few annotated samples, and faster speed than segmentation-based approaches. In order to make use of this landmark-based representation for root phenotyping, we developed a Python library (sleap-roots) for trait extraction directly comparable to existing segmentation-based analysis software. We show that pose-derived root traits are highly accurate and can be used for common downstream tasks including genotype classification and unsupervised trait mapping. Altogether, this work establishes the validity and advantages of pose estimation-based plant phenotyping. To facilitate adoption of this easy-to-use tool and to encourage further development, we make sleap-roots, all training data, models, and trait extraction code available at: https://github.com/talmolab/sleap-roots and https://osf.io/k7j9g/.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Wolfgang Busch
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tanaka N, Yoshida S, Islam MS, Yamazaki K, Fujiwara T, Ohmori Y. OsbZIP1 regulates phosphorus uptake and nitrogen utilization, contributing to improved yield. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 118:159-170. [PMID: 38212943 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Increasing nutrient uptake and use efficiency in plants can contribute to improved crop yields and reduce the demand for fertilizers in crop production. In this study, we characterized a rice mutant, 88n which showed long roots under low nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) conditions. Low expression levels of N transporter genes were observed in 88n root, and total N concentration in 88n shoots were decreased, however, C concentrations and shoot dry weight in 88n were comparable to that in WT. Therefore, 88n showed high nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE). mRNA accumulation of Pi transporter genes was higher in 88n roots, and Pi concentration and uptake activity were higher in 88n than in WT. Therefore, 88n also showed high phosphorus uptake efficiency (PUpE). Molecular genetic analysis revealed that the causal gene of 88n phenotypes was OsbZIP1, a monocot-specific ortholog of the A. thaliana bZIP transcription factor HY5. Similar to the hy5 mutant, chlorophyll content in roots was decreased and root angle was shallower in 88n than in WT. Finally, we tested the yield of 88n in paddy fields over 3 years because 88n mutant plants showed higher PUpE and NUtE activity and different root architecture at the seedling stage. 88n showed large panicles and increased panicle weight/plant. Taken together, a mutation in OsbZIP1 could contribute to improved crop yields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nobuhiro Tanaka
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba-shi, Japan
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
| | - Saki Yoshida
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
| | - Md Saiful Islam
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
- Department of Soil Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali, 8602, Bangladesh
| | - Kiyoshi Yamazaki
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
| | - Toru Fujiwara
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Ohmori
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
- Agricultural Bioinformatics Research Unit, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Li L, Li Q, Liu Y, Xue H, Zhang X, Wang B, Pan X, Zhang Z, Zhang B. Diversity, Variance, and Stability of Root Phenes of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2024; 176:e14207. [PMID: 38383826 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.14207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Root phenes are associated with the absorptive efficiency of water and fertilizers. However, there are few reports on the genetic variation and stability of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) root architecture under different environments. In this study, the diversity, variance and stability of root phenes of 89 peanut varieties were investigated with shovelomics (high throughput phenotyping of root system architecture) for two years in both field and laboratory experiments. The root phenes of these peanut genotypes presented rich diversity; for example, the value of total root length (TRL) ranged from 347.84 cm to 1013.80 cm in the field in 2018, and from 55.14 cm to 206.22 cm in the laboratory tests. The root phenes of different genotypes varied differently; for example, the coefficient of variation (CV) of TRL ranged from 24.0 to 83.5 across the two-year field test. Field and laboratory evaluations were highly correlated, especially on lateral root density (LRD) and root angle (RA), and the quadrant graph analysis of LRD and RA implied that 69.7% of the roots belong to the same type. These not only further reflect root phenes stability through different environment but also demonstrate that some root phenes identified at early stage can indicate their status at later growth stage. In addition, root phenes showed a strong correlation with shoot growth, especially root dry weight (RDW), TRL and(nodule number)NN. Thus, laboratory tests in combination with field shovelomics can efficiently screen and select genotypes with contrasting root phenes to optimize water and nutrient management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lijie Li
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, China
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, US
| | - Qian Li
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Yanli Liu
- Institute of economic crops, Xinxiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Henan, China
| | - Huiyun Xue
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Xiaotian Zhang
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Xiaoping Pan
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, US
| | - Zhiyong Zhang
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Baohong Zhang
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, US
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhang T, Zhang S, Yang S, Zhang J, Wang J, Teng HH. Arabidopsis seedlings respond differentially to nutrient efficacy of three rock meals by regulating root architecture and endogenous auxin homeostasis. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:609. [PMID: 38036956 PMCID: PMC10691044 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04612-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plants show developmental plasticity with variations in environmental nutrients. Considering low-cost rock dust has been identified as a potential alternative to artificial fertilizers for more sustainable agriculture, the growth responses of Arabidopsis seedlings on three rock meals (basalt, granite, and marlstone) were examined for the different foraging behavior, biomass accumulation, and root architecture. RESULTS Compared to ½ MS medium, basalt and granite meal increased primary root length by 13% and 38%, respectively, but marlstone caused a 66% decrease, and they all drastically reduced initiation and elongation of lateral roots but lengthened root hairs. Simultaneous supply of organic nutrients and trace elements increased fresh weight due to the increased length of primary roots and root hairs. When nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were supplied individually, N proved most effective in improving fresh weight of seedlings growing on basalt and granite, whereas K, followed by P, was most effective for those growing on marlstone. Unexpectedly, the addition of N to marlstone negatively affected seedling growth, which was associated with repressed auxin biosynthesis in roots. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that plants can recognize and adapt to complex mineral deficiency by adjusting hormonal homeostasis to achieve environmental sensitivity and developmental plasticity, which provide a basis for ecologically sound and sustainable strategies to maximize the use of natural resources and reduce the production of artificial fertilizers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianjiao Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Weijin Rd. 92, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Sainan Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Weijin Rd. 92, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Shaohui Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Weijin Rd. 92, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Jianchao Zhang
- School of Earth System Science, Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Weijin Rd. 92, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300072, China.
| | - Jiehua Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Weijin Rd. 92, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300072, China.
| | - H Henry Teng
- School of Earth System Science, Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Weijin Rd. 92, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300072, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Tiziani R, Pranter M, Valentinuzzi F, Pii Y, Luigimaria B, Cesco S, Mimmo T. Unraveling plant adaptation to single and combined nutrient deficiencies in a dicotyledonous and a monocotyledonous plant species. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 335:111793. [PMID: 37454818 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Nutrient deficiencies considerably limit agricultural production worldwide. However, while single deficiencies are widely studied, combined deficiencies are poorly addressed. Hence, the aim of this paper was to study single and combined deficiencies of iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) in barley (Hordeum vulgare) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Plants were grown in hydroponics and root exudation was measured over the growing period. At harvest, root morphology and root and shoot ionome was assessed. Shoot-to-root-ratio decreased in both species and in all nutrient deficiencies, besides in -Fe tomato. Barley root growth was enhanced in plants subjected to double deficiency behaving similarly to -P, while tomato reduced root morphology parameters in all treatments. To cope with the nutrient deficiency barley exuded mostly chelants, while tomato relied on organic acids. Moreover, tomato exhibited a slight exudation increase over time not detected in barley. Overall, in none of the species the double deficiency caused a substantial increase in root exudation. Multivariate statistics emphasized that all the treatments were significantly different from each other in tomato, while in barley only -Fe was statistically different from the other treatments. Our findings highlight that the response of the studied plants in double deficiencies is not additive but plant specific.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Tiziani
- Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Piazza Universitá 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
| | - Marion Pranter
- Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Piazza Universitá 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Fabio Valentinuzzi
- Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Piazza Universitá 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Youry Pii
- Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Piazza Universitá 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Borruso Luigimaria
- Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Piazza Universitá 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Stefano Cesco
- Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Piazza Universitá 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Tanja Mimmo
- Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Piazza Universitá 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy; Competence Centre of Plant Health, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Universitá 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Lisuma JB, Semoka JM, Mbwambo AF. Effect of Timing Fertilizer Application on leaf yield and quality of tobacco. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19670. [PMID: 37809816 PMCID: PMC10558943 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Bulenga Lisuma
- Research Department; Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA), P.O Box 431, 45120 Tumbi, Tabora, Tanzania
| | - Johnson Mashambo Semoka
- Soil and Geological Sciences Department; Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), P.O Box 3008 Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Abraham Furahini Mbwambo
- Research Department; Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA), P.O Box 431, 45120 Tumbi, Tabora, Tanzania
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lopez-Valdivia I, Yang X, Lynch JP. Large root cortical cells and reduced cortical cell files improve growth under suboptimal nitrogen in silico. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023:kiad214. [PMID: 37040571 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Suboptimal nitrogen availability is a primary constraint to plant growth. We used OpenSimRoot, a functional-structural plant/soil model, to test the hypothesis that larger root cortical cell size (CCS), reduced cortical cell file number (CCFN), and their interactions with root cortical aerenchyma (RCA) and lateral root branching density (LRBD) are useful adaptations to suboptimal soil nitrogen availability in maize (Zea mays). Reduced CCFN increased shoot dry weight over 80%. Reduced respiration, reduced nitrogen content, and reduced root diameter accounted for 23%, 20%, and 33% of increased shoot biomass, respectively. Large CCS increased shoot biomass by 24% compared with small CCS. When simulated independently, reduced respiration and reduced nutrient content increased the shoot biomass by 14% and 3%, respectively. However, increased root diameter resulting from large CCS decreased shoot biomass by 4% due to an increase in root metabolic cost. Under moderate N stress, integrated phenotypes with reduced CCFN, large CCS, and high RCA improved shoot biomass in silt loam and loamy sand soils. In contrast, integrated phenotypes composed of reduced CCFN, large CCS and reduced lateral root branching density had the greatest growth in silt loam, while phenotypes with reduced CCFN, large CCS and high LRBD were the best performers in loamy sands. Our results support the hypothesis that larger CCS, reduced CCFN, and their interactions with RCA and LRBD could increase nitrogen acquisition by reducing root respiration and root nutrient demand. Phene synergisms may exist between CCS, CCFN, and LRBD. CCS and CCFN merit consideration for breeding cereal crops with improved nitrogen acquisition, which is critical for global food security.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Lopez-Valdivia
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, U.S.A., 16802
| | - Xiyu Yang
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, U.S.A., 16802
| | - Jonathan P Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, U.S.A., 16802
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ojeda-Rivera JO, Alejo-Jacuinde G, Nájera-González HR, López-Arredondo D. Prospects of genetics and breeding for low-phosphate tolerance: an integrated approach from soil to cell. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2022; 135:4125-4150. [PMID: 35524816 PMCID: PMC9729153 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-022-04095-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Improving phosphorus (P) crop nutrition has emerged as a key factor toward achieving a more resilient and sustainable agriculture. P is an essential nutrient for plant development and reproduction, and phosphate (Pi)-based fertilizers represent one of the pillars that sustain food production systems. To meet the global food demand, the challenge for modern agriculture is to increase food production and improve food quality in a sustainable way by significantly optimizing Pi fertilizer use efficiency. The development of genetically improved crops with higher Pi uptake and Pi-use efficiency and higher adaptability to environments with low-Pi availability will play a crucial role toward this end. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of Pi nutrition and the regulation of Pi-starvation responses in plants, and provide new perspectives on how to harness the ample repertoire of genetic mechanisms behind these adaptive responses for crop improvement. We discuss on the potential of implementing more integrative, versatile, and effective strategies by incorporating systems biology approaches and tools such as genome editing and synthetic biology. These strategies will be invaluable for producing high-yielding crops that require reduced Pi fertilizer inputs and to develop a more sustainable global agriculture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Odilón Ojeda-Rivera
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Gerardo Alejo-Jacuinde
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Héctor-Rogelio Nájera-González
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Damar López-Arredondo
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Aski M, Mehra R, Mishra GP, Singh D, Yadav P, Rai N, Reddy VRP, MB AK, Pandey R, Singh MP, Gayacharan, Bansal R, Tripathi K, Udupa SM, Kumar S, Sarker A, Dikshit HK. Genotypic variation in root architectural traits under contrasting phosphorus levels in Mediterranean and Indian origin lentil genotypes. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12766. [PMID: 35291490 PMCID: PMC8918163 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of phosphorus-efficient crop cultivars boosts productivity while lowering eutrophication in the environment. It is feasible to improve the efficiency of phosphorus (P) absorption in lentils by enhancing phosphorus absorption through root architectural traits. The root architectural traits of 110 diverse lentil genotypes of Indian and Mediterranean origin were assessed, and the relationships between traits were investigated. In a hydroponics experiment, the lentil lines were examined at the seedling stage under two conditions: adequate P supply and deficient P supply. The Pearson correlation coefficients between root architectural traits and genetic diversity among lentil lines were assessed. To estimate variance components, a model (fixed factor) was used. In this experiment, both phosphorus (P) and genotype were fixed variables. Our lentil lines showed significant genetic variability and considerable genetic diversity for all traits under both treatments. The TRL (total root length) and PRL (primary root length) showed strong positive associations with all other characteristics excluding root average diameter (RAD) in both P treatments. In both P treatments, the RAD revealed a negative significant association with Total Root Tips (TRT), as well as total root volume (TRV) and total root forks (TRF) in the deficit conditions of P. Total root volume (TRV), total surface area (TSA), and total root tips had higher coefficient variance values. The first two principal components represented 67.88% and 66.19% of the overall variance in the adequate and deficit P treatments respectively. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H') revealed that RAD, PRL, and TSA had more variability than TRT and TRF under both treatments. According to the Comprehensive Phosphorus Efficiency Measure (CPEM), the best five highly efficient genotypes are PLL 18-09, PLS 18-01, PLL 18-25, PLS 18-23, and PLL 18-07, while IG112131, P560206, IG334, L11-231, and PLS18-67 are highly inefficient genotypes. The above contrasting diverse lentil genotypes can be utilized to produce P-efficient lentil cultivars. The lentil germplasm with potentially favorable root traits can be suggested to evaluated for other abiotic stress to use them in crop improvement programme. The scientific breakthroughs in root trait phenotyping have improved the chances of establishing trait-allele relationships. As a result, genotype-to-phenotype connections can be predicted and verified with exceptional accuracy, making it easier to find and incorporate favourable nutrition-related genes/QTLs in to breeding programme.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muraleedhar Aski
- Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Reena Mehra
- International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Gyan Prakash Mishra
- Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Dharmendra Singh
- Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Prachi Yadav
- Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Neha Rai
- Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | | | - Arun Kumar MB
- Seed Science and Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Renu Pandey
- Plant Physiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Madan Pal Singh
- Plant Physiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Gayacharan
- Division of Germplasm Evaluation, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Ruchi Bansal
- Division of Germplasm Evaluation, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Kuldeep Tripathi
- Division of Germplasm Evaluation, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Sripada M. Udupa
- International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Rabat, Morocco
| | - Shiv Kumar
- International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Rabat, Morocco
| | - Ashutosh Sarker
- India International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Harsh Kumar Dikshit
- Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Schneider HM, Lor VSN, Hanlon MT, Perkins A, Kaeppler SM, Borkar AN, Bhosale R, Zhang X, Rodriguez J, Bucksch A, Bennett MJ, Brown KM, Lynch JP. Root angle in maize influences nitrogen capture and is regulated by calcineurin B-like protein (CBL)-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 15 (ZmCIPK15). PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2022; 45:837-853. [PMID: 34169548 PMCID: PMC9544310 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Crops with reduced nutrient and water requirements are urgently needed in global agriculture. Root growth angle plays an important role in nutrient and water acquisition. A maize diversity panel of 481 genotypes was screened for variation in root angle employing a high-throughput field phenotyping platform. Genome-wide association mapping identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with root angle, including one located in the root expressed CBL-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 15 (ZmCIPK15) gene (LOC100285495). Reverse genetic studies validated the functional importance of ZmCIPK15, causing a approximately 10° change in root angle in specific nodal positions. A steeper root growth angle improved nitrogen capture in silico and in the field. OpenSimRoot simulations predicted at 40 days of growth that this change in angle would improve nitrogen uptake by 11% and plant biomass by 4% in low nitrogen conditions. In field studies under suboptimal N availability, the cipk15 mutant with steeper growth angles had 18% greater shoot biomass and 29% greater shoot nitrogen accumulation compared to the wild type after 70 days of growth. We propose that a steeper root growth angle modulated by ZmCIPK15 will facilitate efforts to develop new crop varieties with optimal root architecture for improved performance under edaphic stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M. Schneider
- Department of Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Vai Sa Nee Lor
- Department of AgronomyUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Meredith T. Hanlon
- Department of Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Alden Perkins
- Department of Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Aditi N. Borkar
- School of Veterinary Medicine and ScienceUniversity of NottinghamSutton BoningtonUK
| | - Rahul Bhosale
- Future Food Beacon of Excellence and School of BiosciencesUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - Xia Zhang
- Department of AgronomyUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Jonas Rodriguez
- Department of AgronomyUniversity of WisconsinMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Alexander Bucksch
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
- Institute of BioinformaticsUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Malcolm J. Bennett
- Future Food Beacon of Excellence and School of BiosciencesUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - Kathleen M. Brown
- Department of Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Jonathan P. Lynch
- Department of Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
He M, Li X, Mang M, Li Z, Ludewig U, Schulze WX. A systems-biology approach identifies co-expression modules in response to low phosphate supply in maize lines of different breeding history. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 109:1249-1270. [PMID: 34897849 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plants cope with low phosphorus availability by adjusting growth and metabolism through transcriptomic and proteomic adaptations. We hypothesize that selected genotypes with distinct phosphorous (P) use efficiency covering the breeding history of European Flint heterotic pool provide a tool to reveal general and genotype-specific molecular responses to P limitation. We reconstructed protein and gene co-expression networks by weighted correlation network analysis and related these to phosphate deficiency-induced traits. In roots, low phosphate supply resulted in a decreasing abundance of proteins in the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway and a negative correlation with root and shoot phosphate content. We observed an increase in abundance and positive correlation with root and shoot phosphate content for proteins in sucrose biosynthesis, lipid metabolism, respiration and RNA processing. Purple acid phosphatases, superoxide dismutase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase were identified as being upregulated under low phosphate in all genotypes. Overall, correlations between protein and mRNA abundance changes were limited, with ribosomal proteins and the ubiquitin protein degradation pathway exclusively responding with protein abundance changes. Carbohydrate, phospho- and sulfo-lipid metabolism showed abundance changes at the protein and mRNA levels. These partially non-overlapping proteomic and transcriptomic adjustments to low phosphate suggest sugar and lipid metabolism as metabolic processes associated with improved P use efficiency specifically in Founder Flint lines. We identified a mitogen-activated protein kinase-kinase as a potential genotype-specific regulator of sucrose metabolism at low phosphate in Founder Flint line EP1. We conclude that, during breedingt of Elite Flint lines, regulation of primary metabolism has changed to result in a distinct low phosphate response in Founder lines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingjie He
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70593, Germany
| | - Xuelian Li
- Department of Nutritional Crop Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70593, Germany
| | - Melissa Mang
- Department of Nutritional Crop Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70593, Germany
| | - Zhi Li
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70593, Germany
| | - Uwe Ludewig
- Department of Nutritional Crop Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70593, Germany
| | - Waltraud X Schulze
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70593, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Griffiths M, Delory BM, Jawahir V, Wong KM, Bagnall GC, Dowd TG, Nusinow DA, Miller AJ, Topp CN. Optimisation of root traits to provide enhanced ecosystem services in agricultural systems: A focus on cover crops. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2022; 45:751-770. [PMID: 34914117 PMCID: PMC9306666 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Roots are the interface between the plant and the soil and play a central role in multiple ecosystem processes. With intensification of agricultural practices, rhizosphere processes are being disrupted and are causing degradation of the physical, chemical and biotic properties of soil. However, cover crops, a group of plants that provide ecosystem services, can be utilised during fallow periods or used as an intercrop to restore soil health. The effectiveness of ecosystem services provided by cover crops varies widely as very little breeding has occurred in these species. Improvement of ecosystem service performance is rarely considered as a breeding trait due to the complexities and challenges of belowground evaluation. Advancements in root phenotyping and genetic tools are critical in accelerating ecosystem service improvement in cover crops. In this study, we provide an overview of the range of belowground ecosystem services provided by cover crop roots: (1) soil structural remediation, (2) capture of soil resources and (3) maintenance of the rhizosphere and building of organic matter content. Based on the ecosystem services described, we outline current and promising phenotyping technologies and breeding strategies in cover crops that can enhance agricultural sustainability through improvement of root traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kong M. Wong
- Donald Danforth Plant Science CenterSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | | | - Tyler G. Dowd
- Donald Danforth Plant Science CenterSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | | | - Allison J. Miller
- Donald Danforth Plant Science CenterSt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Department of BiologySaint Louis UniversitySt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Hibbert L, Taylor G. Improving phosphate use efficiency in the aquatic crop watercress (Nasturtium officinale). HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2022; 9:uhac011. [PMID: 35147194 PMCID: PMC8969064 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhac011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Watercress is a nutrient-dense leafy green crop, traditionally grown in aquatic outdoor systems and increasingly seen as well-suited for indoor hydroponic systems. However, there is concern that this crop has a detrimental impact on the environment through direct phosphate additions causing environmental pollution. Phosphate-based fertilisers are supplied to enhanced crop yield, but their use may contribute to eutrophication of waterways downstream of traditional watercress farms. One option is to develop a more phosphate use efficient (PUE) crop. This review identifies the key traits for this aquatic crop (the ideotype), for future selection, marker development and breeding. Traits identified as important for PUE are (i) increased root surface area through prolific root branching and adventitious root formation, (ii) aerenchyma formation and root hair growth. Functional genomic traits for improved PUE are (iii) efficacious phosphate remobilisation and scavenging strategies and (iv) the use of alternative metabolic pathways. Key genomic targets for this aquatic crop are identified as: PHT phosphate transporter genes, global transcriptional regulators such as those of the SPX family and genes involved in galactolipid and sulfolipid biosynthesis such as MGD2/3, PECP1, PSR2, PLDζ1/2 and SQD2. Breeding for enhanced PUE in watercress will be accelerated by improved molecular genetic resources such as a full reference genome sequence that is currently in development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Hibbert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, SO17 1BJ, UK
- Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Gail Taylor
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, SO17 1BJ, UK
- Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Chiteri KO, Jubery TZ, Dutta S, Ganapathysubramanian B, Cannon S, Singh A. Dissecting the Root Phenotypic and Genotypic Variability of the Iowa Mung Bean Diversity Panel. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 12:808001. [PMID: 35154202 PMCID: PMC8828542 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.808001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] is a drought-tolerant, short-duration crop, and a rich source of protein and other valuable minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. The main objectives of this research were (1) to study the root traits related with the phenotypic and genetic diversity of 375 mung bean genotypes of the Iowa (IA) diversity panel and (2) to conduct genome-wide association studies of root-related traits using the Automated Root Image Analysis (ARIA) software. We collected over 9,000 digital images at three-time points (days 12, 15, and 18 after germination). A broad sense heritability for days 15 (0.22-0.73) and 18 (0.23-0.87) was higher than that for day 12 (0.24-0.51). We also reported root ideotype classification, i.e., PI425425 (India), PI425045 (Philippines), PI425551 (Korea), PI264686 (Philippines), and PI425085 (Sri Lanka) that emerged as the top five in the topsoil foraging category, while PI425594 (unknown origin), PI425599 (Thailand), PI425610 (Afghanistan), PI425485 (India), and AVMU0201 (Taiwan) were top five in the drought-tolerant and nutrient uptake "steep, cheap, and deep" ideotype. We identified promising genotypes that can help diversify the gene pool of mung bean breeding stocks and will be useful for further field testing. Using association studies, we identified markers showing significant associations with the lateral root angle (LRA) on chromosomes 2, 6, 7, and 11, length distribution (LED) on chromosome 8, and total root length-growth rate (TRL_GR), volume (VOL), and total dry weight (TDW) on chromosomes 3 and 5. We discussed genes that are potential candidates from these regions. We reported beta-galactosidase 3 associated with the LRA, which has previously been implicated in the adventitious root development via transcriptomic studies in mung bean. Results from this work on the phenotypic characterization, root-based ideotype categories, and significant molecular markers associated with important traits will be useful for the marker-assisted selection and mung bean improvement through breeding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin O. Chiteri
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Talukder Zaki Jubery
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Somak Dutta
- Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | | | - Steven Cannon
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- USDA—Agricultural Research Service, Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Unit, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Arti Singh
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lynch JP. Harnessing root architecture to address global challenges. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 109:415-431. [PMID: 34724260 PMCID: PMC9299910 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Root architecture can be targeted in breeding programs to develop crops with better capture of water and nutrients. In rich nations, such crops would reduce production costs and environmental pollution and, in developing nations, they would improve food security and economic development. Crops with deeper roots would have better climate resilience while also sequestering atmospheric CO2 . Deeper rooting, which improves water and N capture, is facilitated by steeper root growth angles, fewer axial roots, reduced lateral branching, and anatomical phenotypes that reduce the metabolic cost of root tissue. Mechanical impedance, hypoxia, and Al toxicity are constraints to subsoil exploration. To improve topsoil foraging for P, K, and other shallow resources, shallower root growth angles, more axial roots, and greater lateral branching are beneficial, as are metabolically cheap roots. In high-input systems, parsimonious root phenotypes that focus on water capture may be advantageous. The growing prevalence of Conservation Agriculture is shifting the mechanical impedance characteristics of cultivated soils in ways that may favor plastic root phenotypes capable of exploiting low resistance pathways to the subsoil. Root ideotypes for many low-input systems would not be optimized for any one function, but would be resilient against an array of biotic and abiotic challenges. Root hairs, reduced metabolic cost, and developmental regulation of plasticity may be useful in all environments. The fitness landscape of integrated root phenotypes is large and complex, and hence will benefit from in silico tools. Understanding and harnessing root architecture for crop improvement is a transdisciplinary opportunity to address global challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P. Lynch
- Department of Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPA16802USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Liu D. Root developmental responses to phosphorus nutrition. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 63:1065-1090. [PMID: 33710755 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development. Root system architecture (RSA) affects a plant's ability to obtain phosphate, the major form of phosphorus that plants uptake. In this review, I first consider the relationship between RSA and plant phosphorus-acquisition efficiency, describe how external phosphorus conditions both induce and impose changes in the RSA of major crops and of the model plant Arabidopsis, and discuss whether shoot phosphorus status affects RSA and whether there is a universal root developmental response across all plant species. I then summarize the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing root developmental responses to phosphorus deficiency. I also explore the possible reasons for the inconsistent results reported by different research groups and comment on the relevance of some studies performed under laboratory conditions to what occurs in natural environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Center for Plant Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Oo AZ, Tsujimoto Y, Mukai M, Nishigaki T, Takai T, Uga Y. Synergy between a shallow root system with a DRO1 homologue and localized P application improves P uptake of lowland rice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9484. [PMID: 33947950 PMCID: PMC8096825 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89129-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Improved phosphorus (P) use efficiency for crop production is needed, given the depletion of phosphorus ore deposits, and increasing ecological concerns about its excessive use. Root system architecture (RSA) is important in efficiently capturing immobile P in soils, while agronomically, localized P application near the roots is a potential approach to address this issue. However, the interaction between genetic traits of RSA and localized P application has been little understood. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) and their parent of rice (qsor1-NIL, Dro1-NIL, and IR64, with shallow, deep, and intermediate root growth angles (RGA), respectively) were grown in flooded pots after placing P near the roots at transplanting (P-dipping). The experiment identified that the P-dipping created an available P hotspot at the plant base of the soil surface layer where the qsor1-NIL had the greatest root biomass and root surface area despite no genotyipic differences in total values, whereby the qsor1-NIL had significantly greater biomass and P uptake than the other genotypes in the P-dipping. The superior surface root development of qsor1-NIL could have facilitated P uptakes from the P hotspot, implying that P-use efficiency in crop production can be further increased by combining genetic traits of RSA and localized P application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aung Zaw Oo
- Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, 1-1 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 3058686, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Tsujimoto
- Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, 1-1 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 3058686, Japan.
| | - Mana Mukai
- Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, 1-1 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 3058686, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Nishigaki
- Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, 1-1 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 3058686, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Takai
- Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, 1-1 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 3058686, Japan
| | - Yusaku Uga
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-2, Kan-nondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 3058518, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Takahashi H, Pradal C. Root phenotyping: important and minimum information required for root modeling in crop plants. BREEDING SCIENCE 2021; 71:109-116. [PMID: 33762880 DOI: 10.1071/bt06118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 391] [Impact Index Per Article: 130.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
As plants cannot relocate, they require effective root systems for water and nutrient uptake. Root development plasticity enables plants to adapt to different environmental conditions. Research on improvements in crop root systems is limited in comparison with that in shoots as the former are difficult to image. Breeding more effective root systems is proposed as the "second green revolution". There are several recent publications on root system architecture (RSA), but the methods used to analyze the RSA have not been standardized. Here, we introduce traditional and current root-imaging methods and discuss root structure phenotyping. Some important root structures have not been standardized as roots are easily affected by rhizosphere conditions and exhibit greater plasticity than shoots; moreover, root morphology significantly varies even in the same genotype. For these reasons, it is difficult to define the ideal root systems for breeding. In this review, we introduce several types of software to analyze roots and identify important root parameters by modeling to simplify the root system characterization. These parameters can be extracted from photographs captured in the field. This modeling approach is applicable to various legacy root data stored in old or unpublished formats. Standardization of RSA data could help estimate root ideotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hirokazu Takahashi
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
| | - Christophe Pradal
- UMR AGAP, CIRAD, F-34398 Montpellier, France
- Inria & LIRMM, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Rangarajan H, Lynch JP. A Comparative Analysis of Quantitative Metrics of Root Architecture. PLANT PHENOMICS (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2021; 2021:6953197. [PMID: 33851135 PMCID: PMC8028844 DOI: 10.34133/2021/6953197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
High throughput phenotyping is important to bridge the gap between genotype and phenotype. The methods used to describe the phenotype therefore should be robust to measurement errors, relatively stable over time, and most importantly, provide a reliable estimate of elementary phenotypic components. In this study, we use functional-structural modeling to evaluate quantitative phenotypic metrics used to describe root architecture to determine how they fit these criteria. Our results show that phenes such as root number, root diameter, and lateral root branching density are stable, reliable measures and are not affected by imaging method or plane. Metrics aggregating multiple phenes such as total length, total volume, convex hull volume, and bushiness index estimate different subsets of the constituent phenes; they however do not provide any information regarding the underlying phene states. Estimates of phene aggregates are not unique representations of underlying constituent phenes: multiple phenotypes having phenes in different states could have similar aggregate metrics. Root growth angle is an important phene which is susceptible to measurement errors when 2D projection methods are used. Metrics that aggregate phenes which are complex functions of root growth angle and other phenes are also subject to measurement errors when 2D projection methods are used. These results support the hypothesis that estimates of phenes are more useful than metrics aggregating multiple phenes for phenotyping root architecture. We propose that these concepts are broadly applicable in phenotyping and phenomics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harini Rangarajan
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Jonathan P. Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Zhang Y, Zhang W, Cao Q, Zheng X, Yang J, Xue T, Sun W, Du X, Wang L, Wang J, Zhao F, Xiang F, Li S. WinRoots: A High-Throughput Cultivation and Phenotyping System for Plant Phenomics Studies Under Soil Stress. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:794020. [PMID: 35154184 PMCID: PMC8832124 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.794020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Soil stress, such as salinity, is a primary cause of global crop yield reduction. Existing crop phenotyping platforms cannot fully meet the specific needs of phenomics studies of plant response to soil stress in terms of throughput, environmental controllability, or root phenotypic acquisition. Here, we report the WinRoots, a low-cost and high-throughput plant soil cultivation and phenotyping system that can provide uniform, controlled soil stress conditions and accurately quantify the whole-plant phenome, including roots. Using soybean seedlings exposed to salt stress as an example, we demonstrate the uniformity and controllability of the soil environment in this system. A high-throughput multiple-phenotypic assay among 178 soybean cultivars reveals that the cotyledon character can serve as a non-destructive indicator of the whole-seedling salt tolerance. Our results demonstrate that WinRoots is an effective tool for high-throughput plant cultivation and soil stress phenomics studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenjing Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qicong Cao
- Weifang Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Weifang, China
| | - Xiaojian Zheng
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jingting Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Tong Xue
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenhao Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xinrui Du
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lili Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jing Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Fengying Zhao
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Fengning Xiang
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shuo Li
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Shuo Li,
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Yi K, Li X, Chen D, Yang S, Liu Y, Tang X, Ling G, Zhao Z. Shallower Root Spatial Distribution Induced by Phosphorus Deficiency Contributes to Topsoil Foraging and Low Phosphorus Adaption in Sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:797635. [PMID: 35242148 PMCID: PMC8887604 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.797635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Low phosphorus (P) availability in acid soils is one of the main limiting factors in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) production. Reconstruction of the root system architecture (RSA) is a vital mechanism for crop low P adaption, while the RSA of sugarcane has not been studied in detail because of its complex root system. In this study, reconstruction of the RSA and its relationship with P acquisition were investigated in a P-efficient sugarcane genotype ROC22 (R22) and two P-inefficient genotypes Yunzhe 03-103 (YZ) and Japan 2 (JP). An efficient dynamic observation room was developed to monitor the spatiotemporal alternation of sugarcane root length density (RLD) and root distribution in soil with heterogeneous P locations. The sugarcane RSA was reconstructed under P deficiency, and R22 had an earlier response than YZ and JP and presented an obvious feature of root shallowness. Compared with the normal P condition, the shallow RLD was increased by 112% in R22 under P deficiency while decreased by 26% in YZ and not modified in JP. Meanwhile, R22 exhibited a shallower root distribution than YZ and JP under P deficiency, supported by 51 and 24% greater shallow RLD, and 96 and 67% greater shallow root weight, respectively. The ratio of shallow RLD to total RLD in R22 was 91% greater than YZ, and the ratio of shallow root weight to total root weight in R22 was greater than that of YZ and JP by 94 and 30%, respectively. As a result, R22 had a higher shoot P accumulation than YZ and JP, which thereby increased the relative leaf sheath inorganic P concentration (RLPC) by 47 and 56%, relative shoot biomass (RSB) by 36 and 33%, and relative cane weight (RCW) by 31 and 36%, compared with YZ and JP under P deficiency, respectively. We verified the reliability and efficiency of a dynamic observation room and demonstrated that a shallower root distribution contributed to improving topsoil foraging, P acquisition, and low P adaption under P deficiency in sugarcane. Therefore, a shallower root distribution merits consideration as an evaluation trait for breeding P efficient sugarcane genotypes and genetic improvement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ke Yi
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Diwen Chen
- Institute of Nanfan and Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shu Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Ying Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xinlian Tang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Guizhi Ling
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zunkang Zhao
- College of Land Resources and Environment, Jiangxi Agricultural University/Key Innovation Center for the Integration of Industry and Education on Comprehensive Utilization of Agricultural Wastes and Prevention and Control of Agricultural Non-point Pollution of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- *Correspondence: Zunkang Zhao,
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
van der Bom FJT, Williams A, Bell MJ. Root architecture for improved resource capture: trade-offs in complex environments. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:5752-5763. [PMID: 32667996 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Root architecture is a promising breeding target for developing resource-efficient crops. Breeders and plant physiologists have called for root ideotypes that have narrow, deep root systems for improved water and nitrate capture, or wide, shallower root systems for better uptake of less mobile topsoil nutrients such as phosphorus. Yet evidence of relationships between root architecture and crop yield is limited. Many studies focus on the response to a single constraint, despite the fact that crops are frequently exposed to multiple soil constraints. For example, in dryland soils under no-till management, topsoil nutrient stratification is an emergent profile characteristic, leading to spatial separation of water and nutrients as the soil profile dries. This results in spatio-temporal trade-offs between efficient resource capture and pre-defined root ideotypes developed to counter a single constraint. We believe there is need to identify and better understand trade-offs involved in the efficient capture of multiple, spatially disjunct soil resources. Additionally, how these trade-offs interact with genotype (root architecture), environment (soil constraints), and management (agronomy) are critical unknowns. We argue that identifying root traits that enable efficient capture of multiple soil resources under fluctuating environmental constraints is a key step towards meeting the challenges of global food security.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frederik J T van der Bom
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Alwyn Williams
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael J Bell
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Huang G, Zhang D. The Plasticity of Root Systems in Response to External Phosphate. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E5955. [PMID: 32824996 PMCID: PMC7503333 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21175955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphate is an essential macro-element for plant growth accumulated in the topsoil. The improvement of phosphate uptake efficiency via manually manipulating root system architecture is of vital agronomic importance. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms of root patterning in response to external phosphate availability, which could be applied on the alleviation of phosphate-starvation stress. During the long time evolution, plants have formed sophisticated mechanisms to adapt to environmental phosphate conditions. In terms of root systems, plants would adjust their root system architecture via the regulation of the length of primary root, the length/density of lateral root and root hair and crown root growth angle to cope with different phosphate conditions. Finally, plants develop shallow or deep root system in low or high phosphate conditions, respectively. The plasticity of root system architecture responds to the local phosphate concentrations and this response was regulated by actin filaments, post-translational modification and phytohormones such as auxin, ethylene and cytokinin. This review summarizes the recent progress of adaptive response to external phosphate with focus on integrated physiological, cellular and molecular signaling transduction in rice and Arabidopsis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Huang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, SJTU-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China;
| | - Dabing Zhang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, SJTU-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China;
- School of Agriculture, University of Adelaide-SJTU Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Urrbrae 5064, South Australia
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Genetic variation for root architectural traits in response to phosphorus deficiency in mungbean at the seedling stage. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0221008. [PMID: 32525951 PMCID: PMC7289352 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Roots enable the plant to survive in the natural environment by providing anchorage and acquisition of water and nutrients. In this study, root architectural traits of 153 mungbean genotypes were compared under optimum and low phosphorus (P) conditions. Significant variations and medium to high heritability were observed for the root traits. Total root length was positively and significantly correlated with total root surface area, total root volume, total root tips and root forks under both optimum P (r = 0.95, r = 0.85, r = 0.68 and r = 0.82 respectively) and low P (r = 0.95, r = 0.82, r = 0.71 and r = 0.81 respectively). The magnitudes of the coefficient of variations were relatively higher for root forks, total root tips and total root volume. Total root length, total root surface area and total root volume were major contributors of variation and can be utilized for screening of P efficiency at the seedling stage. Released Indian mungbean varieties were found to be superior for root traits than other genotypic groups. Based on comprehensive P efficiency measurement, IPM-288, TM 96–25, TM 96–2, M 1477, PUSA 1342 were found to be the best highly efficient genotypes, whereas M 1131, PS-16, Pusa Vishal, M 831, IC 325828 were highly inefficient. Highly efficient genotypes identified would be valuable genetic resources for P efficiency for utilizing in the mungbean breeding programme.
Collapse
|
26
|
Ceasar SA, Ramakrishnan M, Vinod KK, Roch GV, Upadhyaya HD, Baker A, Ignacimuthu S. Phenotypic responses of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) genotypes to phosphate supply under greenhouse and natural field conditions. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233896. [PMID: 32492057 PMCID: PMC7269269 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Food insecurity is a looming threat for the burgeoning world population. Phosphorus (P), which is absorbed from soil as inorganic phosphate (Pi), is an essential macronutrient for the growth of all agricultural crops. This study reports phenotype analysis for P responses in natural field and greenhouse conditions, using 54 genotypes of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) representing wide geographic origins. The genotype responses were assessed in natural field conditions in two different seasons (monsoon and summer) under Pi-fertilized (P+) and unfertilized (P-) soil for eight above-ground traits. Enormous variations were seen among the genotypes in phenotypic responses for all the measured parameters under low P stress conditions. Variations were significant for plant height, leaf number and length, tillering ability and seed yield traits. Genotypes ISe 1234 and ISe 1541 were P+ responders, and the genotypes ISe 1181, ISe 1655, ISe 783 and ISe 1892 showed tolerance to low P for total seed yield. Genotypes that performed well under P- conditions were almost as productive as genotypes that performed well under P+ conditions suggesting some genotypes are well adapted to nutrient-poor soils. In the greenhouse, most of the genotypes produced changes in root architecture that are characteristic of P- stress, but to differing degrees. Significant variation was seen in root hair density and root hair number and in fresh and dry weight of shoot and root under P- stress. However, there was not much difference in the shoot and root total P and Pi levels of five selected high and low responding genotypes. We noticed contrasting responses in the greenhouse and natural field experiments for most of these genotypes. The leads from the study form the basis for breeding and improvement of foxtail millet for better Pi-use efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S. Antony Ceasar
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, India
- Centre for Plant Sciences, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - M. Ramakrishnan
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, India
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - K. K. Vinod
- Division of Genetics, ICAR—Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - G. Victor Roch
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, India
| | | | - Alison Baker
- Centre for Plant Sciences, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - S. Ignacimuthu
- Xavier Research Foundation, St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai, India
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Schneider HM, Klein SP, Hanlon MT, Nord EA, Kaeppler S, Brown KM, Warry A, Bhosale R, Lynch JP. Genetic control of root architectural plasticity in maize. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:3185-3197. [PMID: 32080722 PMCID: PMC7260711 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Root phenotypes regulate soil resource acquisition; however, their genetic control and phenotypic plasticity are poorly understood. We hypothesized that the responses of root architectural phenes to water deficit (stress plasticity) and different environments (environmental plasticity) are under genetic control and that these loci are distinct. Root architectural phenes were phenotyped in the field using a large maize association panel with and without water deficit stress for three seasons in Arizona and without water deficit stress for four seasons in South Africa. All root phenes were plastic and varied in their plastic response. We identified candidate genes associated with stress and environmental plasticity and candidate genes associated with phenes in well-watered conditions in South Africa and in well-watered and water-stress conditions in Arizona. Few candidate genes for plasticity overlapped with those for phenes expressed under each condition. Our results suggest that phenotypic plasticity is highly quantitative, and plasticity loci are distinct from loci that control phene expression in stress and non-stress, which poses a challenge for breeding programs. To make these loci more accessible to the wider research community, we developed a public online resource that will allow for further experimental validation towards understanding the genetic control underlying phenotypic plasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Schneider
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie P Klein
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Meredith T Hanlon
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Eric A Nord
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Shawn Kaeppler
- Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kathleen M Brown
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Andrew Warry
- Advanced Data Analysis Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Rahul Bhosale
- Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
| | - Jonathan P Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Schneider HM, Lynch JP. Should Root Plasticity Be a Crop Breeding Target? FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:546. [PMID: 32499798 PMCID: PMC7243933 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Root phenotypic plasticity has been proposed as a target for the development of more productive crops in variable environments. However, the plasticity of root anatomical and architectural responses to environmental cues is highly complex, and the consequences of these responses for plant fitness are poorly understood. We propose that root phenotypic plasticity may be beneficial in natural or low-input systems in which the availability of soil resources is spatiotemporally dynamic. Crop ancestors and landraces were selected with multiple stresses, competition, significant root loss and heterogenous resource distribution which favored plasticity in response to resource availability. However, in high-input agroecosystems, the value of phenotypic plasticity is unclear, since human management has removed many of these constraints to root function. Further research is needed to understand the fitness landscape of plastic responses including understanding the value of plasticity in different environments, environmental signals that induce plastic responses, and the genetic architecture of plasticity before it is widely adopted in breeding programs. Phenotypic plasticity has many potential ecological, and physiological benefits, but its costs and adaptive value in high-input agricultural systems is poorly understood and merits further research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan P. Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Sultan S, Snider J, Conn A, Li M, Topp CN, Navlakha S. A Statistical Growth Property of Plant Root Architectures. PLANT PHENOMICS (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2020; 2020:2073723. [PMID: 33313546 PMCID: PMC7706341 DOI: 10.34133/2020/2073723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Numerous types of biological branching networks, with varying shapes and sizes, are used to acquire and distribute resources. Here, we show that plant root and shoot architectures share a fundamental design property. We studied the spatial density function of plant architectures, which specifies the probability of finding a branch at each location in the 3-dimensional volume occupied by the plant. We analyzed 1645 root architectures from four species and discovered that the spatial density functions of all architectures are population-similar. This means that despite their apparent visual diversity, all of the roots studied share the same basic shape, aside from stretching and compression along orthogonal directions. Moreover, the spatial density of all architectures can be described as variations on a single underlying function: a Gaussian density truncated at a boundary of roughly three standard deviations. Thus, the root density of any architecture requires only four parameters to specify: the total mass of the architecture and the standard deviations of the Gaussian in the three (x, y, z) growth directions. Plant shoot architectures also follow this design form, suggesting that two basic plant transport systems may use similar growth strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sam Sultan
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Joseph Snider
- University of California San Diego, Institute for Neural Computation, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Adam Conn
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Mao Li
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Saket Navlakha
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Zhou T, Wang L, Yang H, Gao Y, Liu W, Yang W. Ameliorated light conditions increase the P uptake capability of soybean in a relay-strip intercropping system by altering root morphology and physiology in the areas with low solar radiation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 688:1069-1080. [PMID: 31726538 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Belowground interspecific facilitation and complementarity contribute to the phosphorus (P) uptake advantages in the cereal-legume intercropping system. However, the root morphological and physiological plasticity and, subsequently, the P uptake capability response to light conditions in intercropping systems remain unclear. Soybean was grown under two levels of P application rates in sole and intercropping systems (maize/soybean relay strip intercropping) from 2016 to 2018 in Renshou, southwest of China. As a supplement to the field experiment, soybean was also grown in L-S (simulating the light conditions of sole cropping in the field: light first and then shading) and S-L (simulating the light conditions of intercropping in the field: shading first and then light) light conditions with two levels of P application in 2018 in a pot experiment. After maize harvest (approximately 3/4 of the soybean growth period), light capture in intercropping was higher than sole (ameliorated light conditions in intercropping system), which resulted in an advantage of P uptake in intercropped soybean. Both low P supply and more light capture increased the total root length and root APase activity. The genes GmEXPB2 (which is associated with root growth) and GmACP1 (which is associated with exudation of APase) were highly expressed in plants that captured more light under both P-sufficient and P-deficient conditions. Additionally, more light capture increased the production of lateral roots and the proportion of in the upper 15 cm soil layer roots at the reproductive stage in the field. Across the field and pot experiments, increased root morphological and physiological plasticity were associated with lower P concentrations in the leaves and greater allocation of photosynthates to roots as sucrose. It is suggested that ameliorated light conditions can regulate soybean root growth plasticity and, consequently, P uptake in maize/soybean relay strip intercropping systems, especially in the areas with low solar radiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhou
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Li Wang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Huan Yang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yang Gao
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Weiguo Liu
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China..
| | - Wenyu Yang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China..
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Lynch JP. Root phenotypes for improved nutrient capture: an underexploited opportunity for global agriculture. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 223:548-564. [PMID: 30746704 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Nutrient-efficient crops are a solution to the two grand challenges of modern agriculture: improving food security while reducing environmental impacts. The primary challenges are (1) nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) efficiency; (2) potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) efficiency for acid soils; and (3) iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) efficiency for alkaline soils. Root phenotypes are promising breeding targets for each of these. The Topsoil Foraging ideotype is beneficial for P capture and should also be useful for capture of K, Ca, and Mg in acid soils. The Steep, Cheap, and Deep ideotype for subsoil foraging is beneficial for N and water capture. Fe and Zn capture can be improved by targeting mechanisms of metal mobilization in the rhizosphere. Root hairs and phenes that reduce the metabolic cost of soil exploration should be prioritized in breeding programs. Nutrient-efficient crops should provide benefits at all input levels. Although our current understanding is sufficient to deploy root phenotypes for improved nutrient capture in crop breeding, this complex topic does not receive the resources it merits in either applied or basic plant biology. Renewed emphasis on these topics is needed in order to develop the nutrient-efficient crops urgently needed in global agriculture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Jia X, Liu P, Lynch JP. Greater lateral root branching density in maize improves phosphorus acquisition from low phosphorus soil. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2018; 69:4961-4970. [PMID: 30295904 PMCID: PMC6137997 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The development of crops with better growth under suboptimal phosphorus availability would improve food security in developing countries while reducing environmental pollution in developed countries. We tested the hypothesis that maize (Zea mays) phenotypes with greater lateral root branching density have greater phosphorus acquisition from low phosphorus soils. Recombinant inbred lines with either 'many short' (MS) or 'few long' (FL) lateral root phenotypes were grown under high and low phosphorus conditions in greenhouse mesocosms and in the field. Under low phosphorus in mesocosms, lines with the MS phenotype had 89% greater phosphorus acquisition and 48% more shoot biomass than FL lines. Under low phosphorus in the field, MS lines had 16% shallower rooting depth (D95), 81% greater root length density in the top 20 cm of the soil, 49% greater shoot phosphorus content, 12% greater leaf photosynthesis, 19% greater shoot biomass, and 14% greater grain yield than FL lines. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the phenotype of many, shorter lateral roots improves phosphorus acquisition under low phosphorus availability and merits consideration for genetic improvement of phosphorus efficiency in maize and other crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xucun Jia
- College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University/State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Tai’an, Shandong Province, China
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Peng Liu
- College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University/State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Tai’an, Shandong Province, China
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan P Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Banding of Fertilizer Improves Phosphorus Acquisition and Yield of Zero Tillage Maize by Concentrating Phosphorus in Surface Soil. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10093234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Zero tillage increases stratification of immobile nutrients such as P. However, it is unclear whether near-surface stratification of soil P eases or hampers P uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) which needs an optimum P supply at/before six–leaf–stage to achieve potential grain yield. The aim of the three-year study was to determine whether P stratification, under zero tillage, impaired yield of maize and which P placement methods could improve P uptake on an Aeric Albaquept soil subgroup. Phosphorus fertilizer was placed by: (a) broadcasting before final tillage and sowing of seeds; (b) surface banding beside the row; and (c) deep banding beside the row (both the band placements were done at three–four leaf stage) Phosphorus treatments were repeated for 3 years along with three tillage practices viz.: (a) zero tillage (ZT); (b) conventional tillage (12 cm; CT); and (c) deep tillage (25 cm; DT). In the third year, all the tillage practices gave similar yield of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) hybrid maize–5, but the highest grain yield was obtained by surface band P placement. After three years of tillage and P placements, the root mass density (RMD) at 0–6 cm depth increased significantly from 1.40 mg cm−3 in DT under deep band placement to 1.98 mg cm−3 in ZT under surface band placement, but not at the other depths. The combination of ZT practices, with broadcast or surface band placement methods, produced the highest available, and total P, content in soil at 0–6 cm depth after harvesting of maize. Accordingly, a significant increase in P uptake by maize was also found with surface banding of P alone and also in combination with ZT. Organic carbon, and total N, also increased significantly at depths of 0–6 cm after three years in ZT treatments with P placed in bands. By contrast, CT and DT practices, under all placement methods, resulted in an even distribution of P up to 24 cm depth. Phosphorus application, by surface banding at the three–four leaf stage, led to increased P uptake at early growth and silking stages, which resulted in highest yield regardless of tillage type through increased extractable P in the soil. Even though ZT increased P stratification near the soil surface, and it increased plant available water content (PAWC) and RMD in the 0–6 cm depth, as did surface banding, it did not improve maize grain yield. Further research is needed to understanding the contrasting maize grain yield responses to P stratification.
Collapse
|
34
|
Zhao J, Sykacek P, Bodner G, Rewald B. Root traits of European Vicia faba cultivars-Using machine learning to explore adaptations to agroclimatic conditions. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2018; 41:1984-1996. [PMID: 28857245 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important source of protein, but breeding for increased yield stability and stress tolerance is hampered by the scarcity of phenotyping information. Because comparisons of cultivars adapted to different agroclimatic zones improve our understanding of stress tolerance mechanisms, the root architecture and morphology of 16 European faba bean cultivars were studied at maturity. Different machine learning (ML) approaches were tested in their usefulness to analyse trait variations between cultivars. A supervised, that is, hypothesis-driven, ML approach revealed that cultivars from Portugal feature greater and coarser but less frequent lateral roots at the top of the taproot, potentially enhancing water uptake from deeper soil horizons. Unsupervised clustering revealed that trait differences between northern and southern cultivars are not predominant but that two cultivar groups, independently from major and minor types, differ largely in overall root system size. Methodological guidelines on how to use powerful ML methods such as random forest models for enhancing the phenotypical exploration of plants are given.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiangsan Zhao
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), 1190, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Peter Sykacek
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), 1190, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Gernot Bodner
- Division of Agronomy, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Boris Rewald
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), 1190, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Rangarajan H, Postma JA, Lynch JP. Co-optimization of axial root phenotypes for nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition in common bean. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2018; 122:485-499. [PMID: 29982363 PMCID: PMC6110351 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcy092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Background and Aims Root architecture is a primary determinant of soil resource acquisition. We hypothesized that root architectural phenes will display both positive and negative interactions with each other for soil resource capture because of competition for internal resources and functional trade-offs in soil exploration. Methods We employed the functional-structural plant model SimRoot to explore how interactions among architectural phenes in common bean determine the acquisition of phosphate and nitrate, two key soil resources contrasting in mobility. We evaluated the utility of basal root whorl number (BRWN) when basal root growth angle, hypocotyl-borne roots and lateral root branching density (LRBD) were varied, under varying availability of phosphate and nitrate. Key Results Three basal root whorls were optimal in most phenotypes. This optimum shifted towards greater values when LRBD decreased and to smaller numbers when LRBD increased. The maximum biomass accumulated for a given BRWN phenotype in a given limiting nutrient scenario depended upon root growth angle. Under phosphorus stress shallow phenotypes grew best, whereas under nitrate stress fanned phenotypes grew best. The effect of increased hypocotyl-borne roots depended upon BRWN as well as the limiting nutrient. Greater production of axial roots due to BRWN or hypocotyl-borne roots reduced rooting depth, leading to reduced biomass under nitrate-limiting conditions. Increased BRWN as well as greater LRBD increased root carbon consumption, resulting in reduced shoot biomass. Conclusions We conclude that the utility of a root architectural phenotype is determined by whether the constituent phenes are synergistic or antagonistic. Competition for internal resources and trade-offs for external resources result in multiple phenotypes being optimal under a given nutrient regime. We also find that no single phenotype is optimal across contrasting environments. These results have implications for understanding plant evolution and also for the breeding of more stress-tolerant crop phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harini Rangarajan
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, Tyson Building, University Park, PA, USA
| | | | - Jonathan P Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, Tyson Building, University Park, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Galindo-Castañeda T, Brown KM, Lynch JP. Reduced root cortical burden improves growth and grain yield under low phosphorus availability in maize. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2018; 41:1579-1592. [PMID: 29574982 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Root phenes and phene states that reduce the metabolic cost of soil exploration may improve plant growth under low phosphorus availability. We tested the hypothesis that under low phosphorus, reduced living cortical area (LCA) would increase soil exploration, phosphorus capture, biomass, and grain yield. Maize genotypes contrasting in LCA were grown in the field and in greenhouse mesocosms under optimal and suboptimal phosphorus regimes. Percent LCA in nodal roots ranged from 25% to 67%. Plants with 0.2 mm2 less LCA under low phosphorus had 75% less root segment respiration, 54% less root phosphorus content, rooted 20 cm deeper, allocated up to four times more roots between 60 and 120 cm depth, had between 20% and 150% more biomass, 35-40% greater leaf phosphorus content, and 60% greater grain yield compared with plants with high LCA. Low-LCA plants had up to 55% less arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in axial roots, but this decrease was not correlated with biomass or phosphorus content. The LCA components cortical cell file number and cortical cell size were important for biomass and phosphorus content under low phosphorus. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that root phenes that decrease the metabolic cost of soil exploration are adaptive under phosphorus stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tania Galindo-Castañeda
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Kathleen M Brown
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Jonathan P Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Huang G, Liang W, Sturrock CJ, Pandey BK, Giri J, Mairhofer S, Wang D, Muller L, Tan H, York LM, Yang J, Song Y, Kim YJ, Qiao Y, Xu J, Kepinski S, Bennett MJ, Zhang D. Rice actin binding protein RMD controls crown root angle in response to external phosphate. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2346. [PMID: 29892032 PMCID: PMC5995806 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04710-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Root angle has a major impact on acquisition of nutrients like phosphate that accumulate in topsoil and in many species; low phosphate induces shallower root growth as an adaptive response. Identifying genes and mechanisms controlling root angle is therefore of paramount importance to plant breeding. Here we show that the actin-binding protein Rice Morphology Determinant (RMD) controls root growth angle by linking actin filaments and gravity-sensing organelles termed statoliths. RMD is upregulated in response to low external phosphate and mutants lacking of RMD have steeper crown root growth angles that are unresponsive to phosphate levels. RMD protein localizes to the surface of statoliths, and rmd mutants exhibit faster gravitropic response owing to more rapid statoliths movement. We conclude that adaptive changes to root angle in response to external phosphate availability are RMD dependent, providing a potential target for breeders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Huang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, SJTU-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Wanqi Liang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, SJTU-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough Leicstershire, LE12 5RD, Nottingham, UK
| | - Craig J Sturrock
- Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough Leicstershire, LE12 5RD, Nottingham, UK
| | - Bipin K Pandey
- Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough Leicstershire, LE12 5RD, Nottingham, UK
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Jitender Giri
- Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough Leicstershire, LE12 5RD, Nottingham, UK
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Stefan Mairhofer
- Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough Leicstershire, LE12 5RD, Nottingham, UK
| | - Daoyang Wang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, SJTU-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Lukas Muller
- Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough Leicstershire, LE12 5RD, Nottingham, UK
| | - Hexin Tan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Larry M York
- Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough Leicstershire, LE12 5RD, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jing Yang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, SJTU-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough Leicstershire, LE12 5RD, Nottingham, UK
| | - Yu Song
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, SJTU-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yu-Jin Kim
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, SJTU-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yang Qiao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for BioImaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Stefan Kepinski
- Centre for Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Malcolm J Bennett
- Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough Leicstershire, LE12 5RD, Nottingham, UK.
| | - Dabing Zhang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, SJTU-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- University of Adelaide-SJTU Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, 5064, SA, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Wang L, Guo M, Li Y, Ruan W, Mo X, Wu Z, Sturrock CJ, Yu H, Lu C, Peng J, Mao C. LARGE ROOT ANGLE1, encoding OsPIN2, is involved in root system architecture in rice. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2018; 69:385-397. [PMID: 29294052 PMCID: PMC5853395 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erx427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Root system architecture is very important for plant growth and crop yield. It is essential for nutrient and water uptake, anchoring, and mechanical support. Root growth angle (RGA) is a vital constituent of root system architecture and is used as a parameter for variety evaluation in plant breeding. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms that determine root growth angle in rice (Oryza sativa). In this study, a rice mutant large root angle1 (lra1) was isolated and shown to exhibit a large RGA and reduced sensitivity to gravity. Genome resequencing and complementation assays identified OsPIN2 as the gene responsible for the mutant phenotypes. OsPIN2 was mainly expressed in roots and the base of shoots, and showed polar localization in the plasma membrane of root epidermal and cortex cells. OsPIN2 was shown to play an important role in mediating root gravitropic responses in rice and was essential for plants to produce normal RGAs. Taken together, our findings suggest that OsPIN2 plays an important role in root gravitropic responses and determining the root system architecture in rice by affecting polar auxin transport in the root tip.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengxue Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenyuan Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaorong Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhongchang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Craig J Sturrock
- The Hounsfield Facility, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Biological Sciences and Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chungui Lu
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jinrong Peng
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chuanzao Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Roucou A, Violle C, Fort F, Roumet P, Ecarnot M, Vile D. Shifts in plant functional strategies over the course of wheat domestication. J Appl Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Agathe Roucou
- CEFE; CNRS; Univ. Montpellier; Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3; EPHE, IRD; Montpellier France
- LEPSE; Univ Montpellier; INRA; SupAgro Montpellier; Montpellier France
| | - Cyrille Violle
- CEFE; CNRS; Univ. Montpellier; Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3; EPHE, IRD; Montpellier France
| | - Florian Fort
- CEFE; Montpellier SupAgro; CNRS; Univ. Montpellier; Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3; EPHE, IRD; Montpellier France
| | - Pierre Roumet
- AGAP; Univ Montpellier; CIRAD; INRA; Montpellier SupAgro; Montpellier France
| | - Martin Ecarnot
- AGAP; Univ Montpellier; CIRAD; INRA; Montpellier SupAgro; Montpellier France
| | - Denis Vile
- LEPSE; Univ Montpellier; INRA; SupAgro Montpellier; Montpellier France
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Eapen D, Martínez-Guadarrama J, Hernández-Bruno O, Flores L, Nieto-Sotelo J, Cassab GI. Synergy between root hydrotropic response and root biomass in maize (Zea mays L.) enhances drought avoidance. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2017; 265:87-99. [PMID: 29223345 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Roots of higher plants change their growth direction in response to moisture, avoiding drought and gaining maximum advantage for development. This response is termed hydrotropism. There have been few studies of root hydrotropism in grasses, particularly in maize. Our goal was to test whether an enhanced hydrotropic response of maize roots correlates with a better adaptation to drought and partial/lateral irrigation in field studies. We developed a laboratory bioassay for testing hydrotropic response in primary roots of 47 maize elite DTMA (Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa) hybrids. After phenotyping these hybrids in the laboratory, selected lines were tested in the field. Three robust and three weak hybrids were evaluated employing three irrigation procedures: normal irrigation, partial lateral irrigation and drought. Hybrids with a robust hydrotropic response showed growth and developmental patterns, under drought and partial lateral irrigation, that differed from weak hydrotropic responders. A correlation between root crown biomass and grain yield in hybrids with robust hydrotropic response was detected. Hybrids with robust hydrotropic response showed earlier female flowering whereas several root system traits, such as projected root area, median width, maximum width, skeleton width, skeleton nodes, average tip diameter, rooting depth skeleton, thinner aboveground crown roots, as well as stem diameter, were considerably higher than in weak hydrotropic responders in the three irrigation procedures utilized. These results demonstrate the benefit of intensive phenotyping of hydrotropism in primary roots since maize plants that display a robust hydrotropic response grew better under drought and partial lateral irrigation, indicating that a selection for robust hydrotropism might be a promising breeding strategy to improve drought avoidance in maize.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Delfeena Eapen
- Departamento de Biología Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Mor. 62210, Mexico.
| | - Jesús Martínez-Guadarrama
- Departamento de Biología Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Mor. 62210, Mexico
| | - Oralia Hernández-Bruno
- Departamento de Biología Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Mor. 62210, Mexico
| | - Leonardo Flores
- Departamento de Biología Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Mor. 62210, Mexico
| | - Jorge Nieto-Sotelo
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Molecular, Jardín Botánico, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Zona Deportiva s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de Mexico, 04510, Mexico
| | - Gladys I Cassab
- Departamento de Biología Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Mor. 62210, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Ferrieri AP, Machado RAR, Arce CCM, Kessler D, Baldwin IT, Erb M. Localized micronutrient patches induce lateral root foraging and chemotropism in Nicotiana attenuata. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2017; 59:759-771. [PMID: 28650091 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2023]
Abstract
Nutrients are distributed unevenly in the soil. Phenotypic plasticity in root growth and proliferation may enable plants to cope with this variation and effectively forage for essential nutrients. However, how micronutrients shape root architecture of plants in their natural environments is poorly understood. We used a combination of field and laboratory-based assays to determine the capacity of Nicotiana attenuata to direct root growth towards localized nutrient patches in its native environment. Plants growing in nature displayed a particular root phenotype consisting of a single primary root and a few long, shallow lateral roots. Analysis of bulk soil surrounding the lateral roots revealed a strong positive correlation between lateral root placement and micronutrient gradients, including copper, iron and zinc. In laboratory assays, the application of localized micronutrient salts close to lateral root tips led to roots bending in the direction of copper and iron. This form of chemotropism was absent in ethylene and jasmonic acid deficient lines, suggesting that it is controlled in part by these two hormones. This work demonstrates that directed root growth underlies foraging behavior, and suggests that chemotropism and micronutrient-guided root placement are important factors that shape root architecture in nature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail P Ferrieri
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Ricardo A R Machado
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Carla C M Arce
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Danny Kessler
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Ian T Baldwin
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Matthias Erb
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Wang J, Pei L, Jin Z, Zhang K, Zhang J. Overexpression of the protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit a gene ZmPP2AA1 improves low phosphate tolerance by remodeling the root system architecture of maize. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176538. [PMID: 28448624 PMCID: PMC5407761 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphate (Pi) limitation is a constraint for plant growth and development in many natural and agricultural ecosystems. In this study, a gene encoding Zea mays L. protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit A, designated ZmPP2AA1, was induced in roots by low Pi availability. The function of the ZmPP2AA1 gene in maize was analyzed using overexpression and RNA interference. ZmPP2AA1 modulated root gravitropism, negatively regulated primary root (PR) growth, and stimulated the development of lateral roots (LRs). A detailed characterization of the root system architecture (RSA) in response to different Pi concentrations with or without indole-3-acetic acid and 1-N-naphthylphthalamic acid revealed that auxin was involved in the RSA response to low Pi availability. Overexpression of ZmPP2AA1 enhanced tolerance to Pi starvation in transgenic maize in hydroponic and soil pot experiments. An increased dry weight (DW), root-to-shoot ratio, and total P content and concentration, along with a delayed and reduced accumulation of anthocyanin in overexpressing transgenic maize plants coincided with their highly branched root system and increased Pi uptake capability under low Pi conditions. Inflorescence development of the ZmPP2AA1 overexpressing line was less affected by low Pi stress, resulting in higher grain yield per plant under Pi deprivation. These data reveal the biological function of ZmPP2AA1, provide insights into a linkage between auxin and low Pi responses, and drive new strategies for the efficient utilization of Pi by maize.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiemin Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Plant Cell Engineering and Germplasm Enhancement, Jinan, China
| | - Laming Pei
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Plant Cell Engineering and Germplasm Enhancement, Jinan, China
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, China
| | - Zhe Jin
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Plant Cell Engineering and Germplasm Enhancement, Jinan, China
| | - Kewei Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Plant Cell Engineering and Germplasm Enhancement, Jinan, China
| | - Juren Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Plant Cell Engineering and Germplasm Enhancement, Jinan, China
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Salvi S. An evo-devo perspective on root genetic variation in cereals. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2017; 68:351-354. [PMID: 28204583 PMCID: PMC5444473 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erw505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Silvio Salvi
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Le Marié C, Kirchgessner N, Flütsch P, Pfeifer J, Walter A, Hund A. RADIX: rhizoslide platform allowing high throughput digital image analysis of root system expansion. PLANT METHODS 2016; 12:40. [PMID: 27602051 PMCID: PMC5011878 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-016-0140-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phenotyping of genotype-by-environment interactions in the root-zone is of major importance for crop improvement as the spatial distribution of a plant's root system is crucial for a plant to access water and nutrient resources of the soil. However, so far it is unclear to what extent genetic variations in root system responses to spatially varying soil resources can be utilized for breeding applications. Among others, one limiting factor is the absence of phenotyping platforms allowing the analysis of such interactions. RESULTS We developed a system that is able to (a) monitor root and shoot growth synchronously, (b) investigate their dynamic responses and (c) analyse the effect of heterogeneous N distribution to parts of the root system in a split-nutrient setup with a throughput (200 individual maize plants at once) sufficient for mapping of quantitative trait loci or for screens of multiple environmental factors. In a test trial, 24 maize genotypes were grown under split nitrogen conditions and the response of shoot and root growth was investigated. An almost double elongation rate of crown and lateral roots was observed under high N for all genotypes. The intensity of genotype-specific responses varied strongly. For example, elongation of crown roots differed almost two times between the fastest and slowest growing genotype. A stronger selective root placement in the high-N compartment was related to an increased shoot development indicating that early vigour might be related to a more intense foraging behaviour. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, RADIX is the only system currently existing which allows studying the differential response of crown roots to split-nutrient application to quantify foraging behaviour in genome mapping or selection experiments. In doing so, changes in root and shoot development and the connection to plant performance can be investigated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chantal Le Marié
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Norbert Kirchgessner
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Flütsch
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Pfeifer
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Achim Walter
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Hund
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Dathe A, Postma JA, Postma-Blaauw MB, Lynch JP. Impact of axial root growth angles on nitrogen acquisition in maize depends on environmental conditions. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2016; 118:401-14. [PMID: 27474507 PMCID: PMC4998975 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcw112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS Crops with reduced requirement for nitrogen (N) fertilizer would have substantial benefits in developed nations, while improving food security in developing nations. This study employs the functional structural plant model SimRoot to test the hypothesis that variation in the growth angles of axial roots of maize (Zea mays L.) is an important determinant of N capture. METHODS Six phenotypes contrasting in axial root growth angles were modelled for 42 d at seven soil nitrate levels from 10 to 250 kg ha(-1) in a sand and a silt loam, and five precipitation regimes ranging from 0·5× to 1·5× of an ambient rainfall pattern. Model results were compared with soil N measurements of field sites with silt loam and loamy sand textures. KEY RESULTS For optimal nitrate uptake, root foraging must coincide with nitrate availability in the soil profile, which depends on soil type and precipitation regime. The benefit of specific root architectures for efficient N uptake increases with decreasing soil N content, while the effect of soil type increases with increasing soil N level. Extreme root architectures are beneficial under extreme environmental conditions. Extremely shallow root systems perform well under reduced precipitation, but perform poorly with ambient and greater precipitation. Dimorphic phenotypes with normal or shallow seminal and very steep nodal roots performed well in all scenarios, and consistently outperformed the steep phenotypes. Nitrate uptake increased under reduced leaching conditions in the silt loam and with low precipitation. CONCLUSIONS Results support the hypothesis that root growth angles are primary determinants of N acquisition in maize. With decreasing soil N status, optimal angles resulted in 15-50 % greater N acquisition over 42 d. Optimal root phenotypes for N capture varied with soil and precipitation regimes, suggesting that genetic selection for root phenotypes could be tailored to specific environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Dathe
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - J A Postma
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - M B Postma-Blaauw
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - J P Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Koevoets IT, Venema JH, Elzenga JTM, Testerink C. Roots Withstanding their Environment: Exploiting Root System Architecture Responses to Abiotic Stress to Improve Crop Tolerance. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:1335. [PMID: 27630659 PMCID: PMC5005332 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
To face future challenges in crop production dictated by global climate changes, breeders and plant researchers collaborate to develop productive crops that are able to withstand a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses. However, crop selection is often focused on shoot performance alone, as observation of root properties is more complex and asks for artificial and extensive phenotyping platforms. In addition, most root research focuses on development, while a direct link to the functionality of plasticity in root development for tolerance is often lacking. In this paper we review the currently known root system architecture (RSA) responses in Arabidopsis and a number of crop species to a range of abiotic stresses, including nutrient limitation, drought, salinity, flooding, and extreme temperatures. For each of these stresses, the key molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the RSA response are highlighted. To explore the relevance for crop selection, we especially review and discuss studies linking root architectural responses to stress tolerance. This will provide a first step toward understanding the relevance of adaptive root development for a plant's response to its environment. We suggest that functional evidence on the role of root plasticity will support breeders in their efforts to include root properties in their current selection pipeline for abiotic stress tolerance, aimed to improve the robustness of crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iko T. Koevoets
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Plant Cell Biology, University of AmsterdamAmsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jan Henk Venema
- Genomics Research in Ecology and Evolution in Nature – Plant Physiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of GroningenGroningen, Netherlands
| | - J. Theo. M. Elzenga
- Genomics Research in Ecology and Evolution in Nature – Plant Physiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of GroningenGroningen, Netherlands
| | - Christa Testerink
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Plant Cell Biology, University of AmsterdamAmsterdam, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Gao Y, Lynch JP. Reduced crown root number improves water acquisition under water deficit stress in maize (Zea mays L.). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2016; 67:4545-57. [PMID: 27401910 PMCID: PMC4973737 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erw243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
In this study we test the hypothesis that maize genotypes with reduced crown root number (CN) will have greater root depth and improved water acquisition from drying soil. Maize recombinant inbred lines with contrasting CN were evaluated under water stress in greenhouse mesocosms and field rainout shelters. CN varied from 25 to 62 among genotypes. Under water stress in the mesocosms, genotypes with low CN had 31% fewer crown roots, 30% deeper rooting, 56% greater stomatal conductance, 45% greater leaf CO2 assimilation, 61% net canopy CO2 assimilation, and 55% greater shoot biomass than genotypes with high CN at 35 days after planting. Under water stress in the field, genotypes with low CN had 21% fewer crown roots, 41% deeper rooting, 48% lighter stem water oxygen isotope enrichment (δ(18)O) signature signifying deeper water capture, 13% greater leaf relative water content, 33% greater shoot biomass at anthesis, and 57% greater yield than genotypes with high CN. These results support the hypothesis that low CN improves drought tolerance by increasing rooting depth and water acquisition from the subsoil.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingzhi Gao
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, Jilin Province, China Department of Plant Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Jonathan P Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Hecht VL, Temperton VM, Nagel KA, Rascher U, Postma JA. Sowing Density: A Neglected Factor Fundamentally Affecting Root Distribution and Biomass Allocation of Field Grown Spring Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:944. [PMID: 27446171 PMCID: PMC4923255 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Studies on the function of root traits and the genetic variation in these traits are often conducted under controlled conditions using individual potted plants. Little is known about root growth under field conditions and how root traits are affected by agronomic practices in particular sowing density. We hypothesized that with increasing sowing density, root length density (root length per soil volume, cm cm(-3)) increases in the topsoil as well as specific root length (root length per root dry weight, cm g(-1)) due to greater investment in fine roots. Therefore, we studied two spring barley cultivars at ten different sowing densities (24-340 seeds m(-2)) in 2 consecutive years in a clay loam field in Germany and established sowing density dose-response curves for several root and shoot traits. We took soil cores for measuring roots up to a depth of 60 cm in and between plant rows (inter-row distance 21 cm). Root length density increased with increasing sowing density and was greatest in the plant row in the topsoil (0-10 cm). Greater sowing density increased specific root length partly through greater production of fine roots in the topsoil. Rooting depth (D50) of the major root axes (root diameter class 0.4-1.0 mm) was not affected. Root mass fraction decreased, while stem mass fraction increased with sowing density and over time. Leaf mass fraction was constant over sowing density but greater leaf area was realized through increased specific leaf area. Considering fertilization, we assume that light competition caused plants to grow more shoot mass at the cost of investment into roots, which is partly compensated by increased specific root length and shallow rooting. Increased biomass per area with greater densities suggest that density increases the efficiency of the cropping system, however, declines in harvest index at densities over 230 plants m(-2) suggest that this efficiency did not translate into greater yield. We conclude that plant density is a modifier of root architecture and that root traits and their utility in breeding for greater productivity have to be understood in the context of high sowing densities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vera L. Hecht
- Plant Sciences, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbHJülich, Germany
| | - Vicky M. Temperton
- Plant Sciences, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbHJülich, Germany
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University of LüneburgLüneburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin A. Nagel
- Plant Sciences, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbHJülich, Germany
| | - Uwe Rascher
- Plant Sciences, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbHJülich, Germany
| | - Johannes A. Postma
- Plant Sciences, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbHJülich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
York LM, Silberbush M, Lynch JP. Spatiotemporal variation of nitrate uptake kinetics within the maize (Zea mays L.) root system is associated with greater nitrate uptake and interactions with architectural phenes. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2016; 67:3763-75. [PMID: 27037741 PMCID: PMC6371413 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erw133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Increasing maize nitrogen acquisition efficiency is a major goal for the 21st century. Nitrate uptake kinetics (NUK) are defined by I max and K m, which denote the maximum uptake rate and the affinity of transporters, respectively. Because NUK have been studied predominantly at the molecular and whole-root system levels, little is known about the functional importance of NUK variation within root systems. A novel method was created to measure NUK of root segments that demonstrated variation in NUK among root classes (seminal, lateral, crown, and brace). I max varied among root class, plant age, and nitrate deprivation combinations, but was most affected by plant age, which increased I max, and nitrate deprivation time, which decreased I max K m was greatest for crown roots. The functional-structural simulation SimRoot was used for sensitivity analysis of plant growth to root segment I max and K m, as well as to test interactions of I max with root system architectural phenes. Simulated plant growth was more sensitive to I max than K m, and reached an asymptote near the maximum I max observed in the empirical studies. Increasing the I max of lateral roots had the largest effect on shoot growth. Additive effects of I max and architectural phenes on nitrate uptake were observed. Empirically, only lateral root tips aged 20 d operated at the maximum I max, and simulations demonstrated that increasing all seminal and lateral classes to this maximum rate could increase plant growth by as much as 26%. Therefore, optimizing I max for all maize root classes merits attention as a promising breeding goal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Larry M York
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA Intercollege Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Moshe Silberbush
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, J. Blaustein Institute for Desert Research/French Institute of Dryland Agricultural Biotechnology, Sede-Boqer Campus, 84990 Israel
| | - Jonathan P Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Topp CN, Bray AL, Ellis NA, Liu Z. How can we harness quantitative genetic variation in crop root systems for agricultural improvement? JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2016; 58:213-25. [PMID: 26911925 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Root systems are a black box obscuring a comprehensive understanding of plant function, from the ecosystem scale down to the individual. In particular, a lack of knowledge about the genetic mechanisms and environmental effects that condition root system growth hinders our ability to develop the next generation of crop plants for improved agricultural productivity and sustainability. We discuss how the methods and metrics we use to quantify root systems can affect our ability to understand them, how we can bridge knowledge gaps and accelerate the derivation of structure-function relationships for roots, and why a detailed mechanistic understanding of root growth and function will be important for future agricultural gains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam L Bray
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, Missouri 63132, USA
| | - Nathanael A Ellis
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, Missouri 63132, USA
| | - Zhengbin Liu
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, Missouri 63132, USA
| |
Collapse
|