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Li C, Lambers H, Jing J, Zhang C, Bezemer TM, Klironomos J, Cong WF, Zhang F. Belowground cascading biotic interactions trigger crop diversity benefits. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024:S1360-1385(24)00115-8. [PMID: 38821841 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2024.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Crop diversification practices offer numerous synergistic benefits. So far, research has traditionally been confined to exploring isolated, unidirectional single-process interactions among plants, soil, and microorganisms. Here, we present a novel and systematic perspective, unveiling the intricate web of plant-soil-microbiome interactions that trigger cascading effects. Applying the principles of cascading interactions can be an alternative way to overcome soil obstacles such as soil compaction and soil pathogen pressure. Finally, we introduce a research framework comprising the design of diversified cropping systems by including commercial varieties and crops with resource-efficient traits, the exploration of cascading effects, and the innovation of field management. We propose that this provides theoretical and methodological insights that can reveal new mechanisms by which crop diversity increases productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunjie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hans Lambers
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Jingying Jing
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, 100193 Beijing, China
| | - Chaochun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - T Martijn Bezemer
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, 2333, BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - John Klironomos
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, American University of Sharjah, PO Box 26666, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Wen-Feng Cong
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Fusuo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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2
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Liu L, Qin S, Richard Whalley W, Zhou H, Ren T, Gao W. The pore-rhizosheath shapes maize root architecture by enhancing root distribution in macropores. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024. [PMID: 38623641 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Pores and old root-channels are preferentially used by roots to allow them to penetrate hard soils. However, there are few studies that have accounted for the effects of pore-rhizosheath on root growth. In this study, we developed an approach by adding the synthetic root exudates using a porous stainless tube with 0.1-mm micropores through a peristaltic pump to reproduce the rhizosheath around the artificial pore, and investigated the effects of pores with and without rhizosheaths on maize root growth in a dense soil. The results indicated that the artificial rhizosheath was about 2.69 mm wide in the region surrounding the pores. The rhizosheath had a higher content of organic carbon, total nitrogen, and abundance of Actinobacteria than that of the bulk soil. Compared with the artificial macropores, the artificial root-pores with a rhizosheath increased the opportunities for root utilisation of the pores space, promoting steeper and deeper root growth. It is concluded that the pore-rhizosheath has a significant impact on root architecture by enhancing root distribution in macropores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Liu
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shijie Qin
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Hu Zhou
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Tusheng Ren
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Weida Gao
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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3
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Lan Y, Burca G, Yong JWH, Johansson E, Kuktaite R. New Insights into the Bio-Chemical Changes in Wheat Induced by Cd and Drought: What Can We Learn on Cd Stress Using Neutron Imaging? PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:554. [PMID: 38498534 PMCID: PMC10892926 DOI: 10.3390/plants13040554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) and drought stresses are becoming dominant in a changing climate. This study explored the impact of Cd and Cd + drought stress on durum wheat grown in soil and sand at two Cd levels. The physiological parameters were studied using classical methods, while the root architecture was explored using non-invasive neutron computed tomography (NCT) for the first time. Under Cd + drought, all the gas exchange parameters were significantly affected, especially at 120 mg/kg Cd + drought. Elevated Cd was found in the sand-grown roots. We innovatively show the Cd stress impact on the wheat root volume and architecture, and the water distribution in the "root-growing media" was successfully visualized using NCT. Diverse and varying root architectures were observed for soil and sand under the Cd stress compared to the non-stress conditions, as revealed using NCT. The intrinsic structure of the growing medium was responsible for a variation in the water distribution pattern. This study demonstrated a pilot approach to use NCT for quantitative and in situ mapping of Cd stress on wheat roots and visualized the water dynamics in the rhizosphere. The physiological and NCT data provide valuable information to relate further to genetic information for the identification of Cd-resilient wheat varieties in the changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhou Lan
- Department of Plant Breeding, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 190, SE-23422 Lomma, Sweden; (Y.L.); (E.J.)
| | - Genoveva Burca
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK;
- ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Alan Turing Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jean Wan Hong Yong
- Department of Biosystems and Technology, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 190, SE-23422 Lomma, Sweden;
| | - Eva Johansson
- Department of Plant Breeding, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 190, SE-23422 Lomma, Sweden; (Y.L.); (E.J.)
| | - Ramune Kuktaite
- Department of Plant Breeding, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 190, SE-23422 Lomma, Sweden; (Y.L.); (E.J.)
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4
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Colombi T, Pandey BK, Chawade A, Bennett MJ, Mooney SJ, Keller T. Root plasticity versus elasticity - when are responses acclimative? TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024:S1360-1385(24)00018-9. [PMID: 38355326 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2024.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal soil heterogeneity and the resulting edaphic stress cycles can be decisive for crop growth. However, our understanding of the acclimative value of root responses to heterogeneous soil conditions remains limited. We outline a framework to evaluate the acclimative value of root responses that distinguishes between stress responses that are persistent and reversible upon stress release, termed 'plasticity' and 'elasticity', respectively. Using energy balances, we provide theoretical evidence that the advantage of plasticity over elasticity increases with the number of edaphic stress cycles and if responses lead to comparatively high energy gains. Our framework provides a conceptual basis for assessing the acclimative value of root responses to soil heterogeneity and can catalyse research on crop adaptations to heterogeneous belowground environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tino Colombi
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7014, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Bipin K Pandey
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Aakash Chawade
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sundsvägen 10, 23456 Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Malcolm J Bennett
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Sacha J Mooney
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Thomas Keller
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7014, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, CH-8046, Zürich, Switzerland
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5
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Colombi T, Eitelberg L, Kolb E, Legué V, Bogeat-Triboulot MB. Genotypic differences in systemic root responses to mechanical obstacles. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2023; 175:e14094. [PMID: 38148185 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.14094] [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: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
As roots grow through the soil to forage for water and nutrients, they encounter mechanical obstacles such as patches of dense soil and stones that locally impede root growth. Here, we investigated hitherto poorly understood systemic responses of roots to localised root impedance. Seedlings of two wheat genotypes were grown in hydroponics and exposed to impenetrable obstacles constraining the vertical growth of the primary or a single seminal root. We deployed high-resolution in vivo imaging to quantify temporal dynamics of root elongation rate, helical root movement, and root growth direction. The two genotypes exhibited distinctly different patterns of systemic responses to localised root impedance, suggesting different strategies to cope with obstacles, namely stress avoidance and stress tolerance. Shallower growth of unconstrained seminal roots and more pronounced helical movement of unconstrained primary and seminal roots upon localised root impedance characterised the avoidance strategy shown by one genotype. Stress tolerance to localised root impedance, as exhibited by the other genotype, was indicated by relatively fast elongation of primary roots and steeper seminal root growth. These different strategies highlight that the effects of mechanical obstacles on spatiotemporal root growth patterns can differ within species, which may have major implications for resource acquisition and whole-plant growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tino Colombi
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Leah Eitelberg
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Evelyne Kolb
- PMMH, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Valérie Legué
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, PIAF, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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6
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Lucas M, Nguyen LTT, Guber A, Kravchenko AN. Cover crop influence on pore size distribution and biopore dynamics: Enumerating root and soil faunal effects. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:928569. [PMID: 36160999 PMCID: PMC9491155 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.928569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Pore structure is a key determinant of soil functioning, and both root growth and activity of soil fauna are modified by and interact with pore structure in multiple ways. Cover cropping is a rapidly growing popular strategy for improving agricultural sustainability, including improvements in pore structure. However, since cover crop species encompass a variety of contrasting root architectures, they can have disparate effects on formation of soil pores and their characteristics, thus on the pore structure formation. Moreover, utilization of the existing pore systems and its modification by new root growth, in conjunction with soil fauna activity, can also vary by cover crop species, affecting the dynamics of biopores (creation and demolition). The objectives of this study were (i) to quantify the influence of 5 cover crop species on formation and size distribution of soil macropores (>36 μm Ø); (ii) to explore the changes in the originally developed pore architecture after an additional season of cover crop growth; and (iii) to assess the relative contributions of plant roots and soil fauna to fate and modifications of biopores. Intact soil cores were taken from 5 to 10 cm depth after one season of cover crop growth, followed by X-ray computed micro-tomography (CT) characterization, and then, the cores were reburied for a second root growing period of cover crops to explore subsequent changes in pore characteristics with the second CT scanning. Our data suggest that interactions of soil fauna and roots with pore structure changed over time. While in the first season, large biopores were created at the expense of small pores, in the second year these biopores were reused or destroyed by the creation of new ones through earthworm activities and large root growth. In addition, the creation of large biopores (>0.5 mm) increased total macroporosity. During the second root growing period, these large sized macropores, however, are reduced in size again through the action of soil fauna smaller than earthworms, suggesting a highly dynamic equilibrium. Different effects of cover crops on pore structure mainly arise from their differences in root volume, mean diameter as well as their reuse of existing macropores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maik Lucas
- Department of Soil System Science, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Halle, Germany
| | - Linh T. T. Nguyen
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Andrey Guber
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Alexandra N. Kravchenko
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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7
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Abstract
Keeping cover crops to reduce nitrogen leaching often conflicts with timing tillage operations before the soil becomes un-trafficable during winter, while leaving cover crops in the field until spring raises concerns over pre-emptive competition with the following crop. Therefore, farmers may resort to tilling their fields in autumn after letting cover crops remain in the fields for only a short period of time. We explore the effects of this practice in a laboratory lysimeter setting by analyzing the leaching of nitrate from intact topsoil cores. Cores were extracted from no-till (NT) plots and plots tilled in autumn (AuT), in areas kept bare (B) and with volunteer winter rye plant cover (V) after harvest. Nitrate breakthrough curves show that V significantly reduced N leaching by 61% relative to B in NT, but did not have a significant effect in AuT. Dissection of leached cores and undisturbed reference cores indicated a significant removal of mineral N from the soil during the lysimeter experiment for all treatments except V in NT. This indicates that volunteer cover removed a crucial amount of leachable N and suggests that tillage counteracted the effect of V in AuT, likely due to a combination of reduced uptake and re-mineralization of N in cover crop residue.
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8
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Maqbool S, Hassan MA, Xia X, York LM, Rasheed A, He Z. Root system architecture in cereals: progress, challenges and perspective. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 110:23-42. [PMID: 35020968 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Roots are essential multifunctional plant organs involved in water and nutrient uptake, metabolite storage, anchorage, mechanical support, and interaction with the soil environment. Understanding of this 'hidden half' provides potential for manipulation of root system architecture (RSA) traits to optimize resource use efficiency and grain yield in cereal crops. Unfortunately, root traits are highly neglected in breeding due to the challenges of phenotyping, but could have large rewards if the variability in RSA traits can be fully exploited. Until now, a plethora of genes have been characterized in detail for their potential role in improving RSA. The use of forward genetics approaches to find sequence variations in genes underpinning desirable RSA would be highly beneficial. Advances in computer vision applications have allowed image-based approaches for high-throughput phenotyping of RSA traits that can be used by any laboratory worldwide to make progress in understanding root function and dissection of the genetics. At the same time, the frontiers of root measurement include non-invasive methods like X-ray computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging that facilitate new types of temporal studies. Root physiology and ecology are further supported by spatiotemporal root simulation modeling. The discovery of component traits providing improved resilience and yield advantage in target environments is a key necessity for mainstreaming root-based cereal breeding. The integrated use of pan-genome resources, now available in most cereals, coupled with new in-field phenotyping platforms has the potential for precise selection of superior genotypes with improved RSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saman Maqbool
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Adeel Hassan
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xianchun Xia
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Larry M York
- Biosciences Division and Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Awais Rasheed
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
- International Wheat and Maize Improvement Center (CIMMYT) China Office, c/o CAAS, 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Zhonghu He
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
- International Wheat and Maize Improvement Center (CIMMYT) China Office, c/o CAAS, 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
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9
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Lynch JP, Mooney SJ, Strock CF, Schneider HM. Future roots for future soils. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2022; 45:620-636. [PMID: 34725839 PMCID: PMC9299599 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical impedance constrains root growth in most soils. Crop cultivation changed the impedance characteristics of native soils, through topsoil erosion, loss of organic matter, disruption of soil structure and loss of biopores. Increasing adoption of Conservation Agriculture in high-input agroecosystems is returning cultivated soils to the soil impedance characteristics of native soils, but in the low-input agroecosystems characteristic of developing nations, ongoing soil degradation is generating more challenging environments for root growth. We propose that root phenotypes have evolved to adapt to the altered impedance characteristics of cultivated soil during crop domestication. The diverging trajectories of soils under Conservation Agriculture and low-input agroecosystems have implications for strategies to develop crops to meet global needs under climate change. We present several root ideotypes as breeding targets under the impedance regimes of both high-input and low-input agroecosystems, as well as a set of root phenotypes that should be useful in both scenarios. We argue that a 'whole plant in whole soil' perspective will be useful in guiding the development of future crops for future soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P. Lynch
- Department of Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Sacha J. Mooney
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of NottinghamLeicestershireUK
| | - Christopher F. Strock
- Department of Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Hannah M. Schneider
- Centre for Crop Systems AnalysisWageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
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10
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G. Viana W, Scharwies JD, Dinneny JR. Deconstructing the root system of grasses through an exploration of development, anatomy and function. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2022; 45:602-619. [PMID: 35092025 PMCID: PMC9303260 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Well-adapted root systems allow plants to grow under resource-limiting environmental conditions and are important determinants of yield in agricultural systems. Important staple crops such as rice and maize belong to the family of grasses, which develop a complex root system that consists of an embryonic root system that emerges from the seed, and a postembryonic nodal root system that emerges from basal regions of the shoot after germination. While early seedling establishment is dependent on the embryonic root system, the nodal root system, and its associated branches, gains in importance as the plant matures and will ultimately constitute the bulk of below-ground growth. In this review, we aim to give an overview of the different root types that develop in cereal grass root systems, explore the different physiological roles they play by defining their anatomical features, and outline the genetic networks that control their development. Through this deconstructed view of grass root system function, we provide a parts-list of elements that function together in an integrated root system to promote survival and crop productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - José R. Dinneny
- Department of BiologyStanford UniversityStanfordCaliforniaUSA
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11
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Ober ES, Alahmad S, Cockram J, Forestan C, Hickey LT, Kant J, Maccaferri M, Marr E, Milner M, Pinto F, Rambla C, Reynolds M, Salvi S, Sciara G, Snowdon RJ, Thomelin P, Tuberosa R, Uauy C, Voss-Fels KP, Wallington E, Watt M. Wheat root systems as a breeding target for climate resilience. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2021; 134:1645-1662. [PMID: 33900415 PMCID: PMC8206059 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-021-03819-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
In the coming decades, larger genetic gains in yield will be necessary to meet projected demand, and this must be achieved despite the destabilizing impacts of climate change on crop production. The root systems of crops capture the water and nutrients needed to support crop growth, and improved root systems tailored to the challenges of specific agricultural environments could improve climate resiliency. Each component of root initiation, growth and development is controlled genetically and responds to the environment, which translates to a complex quantitative system to navigate for the breeder, but also a world of opportunity given the right tools. In this review, we argue that it is important to know more about the 'hidden half' of crop plants and hypothesize that crop improvement could be further enhanced using approaches that directly target selection for root system architecture. To explore these issues, we focus predominantly on bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a staple crop that plays a major role in underpinning global food security. We review the tools available for root phenotyping under controlled and field conditions and the use of these platforms alongside modern genetics and genomics resources to dissect the genetic architecture controlling the wheat root system. To contextualize these advances for applied wheat breeding, we explore questions surrounding which root system architectures should be selected for, which agricultural environments and genetic trait configurations of breeding populations are these best suited to, and how might direct selection for these root ideotypes be implemented in practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric S Ober
- NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UK.
| | - Samir Alahmad
- Centre for Crop Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - James Cockram
- NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UK
| | - Cristian Forestan
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale G Fanin 44, 40127, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lee T Hickey
- Centre for Crop Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Josefine Kant
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, IBG-2, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Marco Maccaferri
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale G Fanin 44, 40127, Bologna, Italy
| | - Emily Marr
- NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UK
| | | | - Francisco Pinto
- Global Wheat Program, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), 56237, Texcoco, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Charlotte Rambla
- Centre for Crop Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Matthew Reynolds
- Global Wheat Program, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), 56237, Texcoco, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Silvio Salvi
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale G Fanin 44, 40127, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Sciara
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale G Fanin 44, 40127, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rod J Snowdon
- Department of Plant Breeding, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Roberto Tuberosa
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale G Fanin 44, 40127, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristobal Uauy
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Kai P Voss-Fels
- Centre for Animal Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | | | - Michelle Watt
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
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12
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Zhou H, Whalley WR, Hawkesford MJ, Ashton RW, Atkinson B, Atkinson JA, Sturrock CJ, Bennett MJ, Mooney SJ. The interaction between wheat roots and soil pores in structured field soil. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:747-756. [PMID: 33064808 PMCID: PMC7853603 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) root growth in the subsoil is usually constrained by soil strength, although roots can use macropores to elongate to deeper layers. The quantitative relationship between the elongation of wheat roots and the soil pore system, however, is still to be determined. We studied the depth distribution of roots of six wheat varieties and explored their relationship with soil macroporosity from samples with the field structure preserved. Undisturbed soil cores (to a depth of 100 cm) were collected from the field and then non-destructively imaged using X-ray computed tomography (at a spatial resolution of 90 µm) to quantify soil macropore structure and root number density (the number of roots cm-2 within a horizontal cross-section of a soil core). Soil macroporosity changed significantly with depth but not between the different wheat lines. There was no significant difference in root number density between wheat varieties. In the subsoil, wheat roots used macropores, especially biopores (i.e. former root or earthworm channels) to grow into deeper layers. Soil macroporosity explained 59% of the variance in root number density. Our data suggested that the development of the wheat root system in the field was more affected by the soil macropore system than by genotype. On this basis, management practices which enhance the porosity of the subsoil may therefore be an effective strategy to improve deep rooting of wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Zhou
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, PR China
- Correspondence:
| | | | | | | | - Brian Atkinson
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Jonathan A Atkinson
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Craig J Sturrock
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Malcolm J Bennett
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Sacha J Mooney
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK
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Zhang X, Neal AL, Crawford JW, Bacq-Labreuil A, Akkari E, Rickard W. The effects of long-term fertilizations on soil hydraulic properties vary with scales. JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY 2021; 593:125890. [PMID: 33612857 PMCID: PMC7871028 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Soil structure is an indicator of soil quality and its alterations following cropping system conversion or fertilization change evolve slowly. How such alterations vary with scale remains elusive. We investigated this based on the Rothamsted long-term wheat experiment (since 1843) in the UK. Triplicate cores 7 cm high and 10 cm in diameter were taken from plots that have been under different fertilizations or returned to natural woodland for more than one century for imaging using X-ray computed tomography with the voxel size being 40 µm. We then broke each core and sampled three aggregates from it to scan with the voxel size being 1.5 µm. For each core and aggregate sample, we calculated its pore size distribution, permeability and tortuosity. The results showed that the fertilization change >170 years ago reshaped the soil structure differently between the core scale and the aggregate scale. Macro-porosity of the pores (>40 µm) in the cores unfertilized or fertilized with inorganic fertilizers was low and the pores were poorly connected in the top 10 cm of soil, compared to those given farmyard manure or in the woodland. In all treatments, the pores in the core images were hydraulically anisotropic with their permeability in the horizontal direction being higher than that in the vertical direction, whereas the aggregates were comparatively isotropic. The fertilization affected image porosity and permeability at core scale more significantly than at aggregate scale, and the aggregates fertilized with farmyard manure and in the woodland were more permeable than the aggregates in other treatments. It was also found that compared to no-fertilization or fertilization with complete fertilizers, fertilizing without phosphorus over the past 20 years increased the porosity and permeability of the aggregates but not of the cores. Fertilization with inorganic fertilizers increased the tortuosity of the macropores in the cores but not of the intra-aggregate pores, compared to no-fertilization. Porosity-permeability relationship for aggregates unfertilized or fertilized with inorganic fertilisers followed a power law with R 2 > 0.8. In contrast, the permeability of the aggregates in farmyard manure and in the woodland trended differently as their porosity increased. The results also revealed that the transport ability of the aggregates and cores responded differently to carbon in that with soil carbon increasing, the permeability of the aggregates increased asymptotically while the permeability of the cores, especially its horizontal component, increased exponentially.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxian Zhang
- Department of Sustainable Agricultural Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Andrew L Neal
- Sustainable Agriculture Sciences, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke EX20 2SB, UK
| | - John W Crawford
- Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow, West Quadrangle, Glasgow G12 8QQ. UK
| | - Aurelie Bacq-Labreuil
- Division of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Elsy Akkari
- Department of Sustainable Agricultural Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - William Rickard
- Department of Sustainable Agricultural Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, UK
- Division of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
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Wang X, Whalley WR, Miller AJ, White PJ, Zhang F, Shen J. Sustainable Cropping Requires Adaptation to a Heterogeneous Rhizosphere. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 25:1194-1202. [PMID: 32830043 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2020.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Root-soil interactions in the rhizosphere are central to resource acquisition and crop production in agricultural systems. However, apart from studies in idealized experimental systems, rhizosphere processes in real agricultural soils in situ are largely uncharacterized. This limits the contribution of rhizosphere science to agriculture and the ongoing Green Revolution. Here, we argue that understanding plant responses to soil heterogeneity is key to understanding rhizosphere processes. We highlight rhizosphere sensing and root-induced soil modification in the context of heterogeneous soil structure, resource distribution, and root-soil interactions. A deeper understanding of the integrated and dynamic root-soil interactions in the heterogeneously structured rhizosphere could increase crop production and resource use efficiency towards sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, China Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | | | | | - Philip J White
- Ecological Science Group, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK; National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Distinguished Scientist Fellowship Program, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fusuo Zhang
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, China Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Jianbo Shen
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, China Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, PR China.
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