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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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Isolation and Molecular Characterisation of TtDro1A and TtDro1B Genes from Triticum turgidum Subspecies durum and turgidum, Study of Their Influences on Seedling Root Angles. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11060821. [PMID: 35336704 PMCID: PMC8954752 DOI: 10.3390/plants11060821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum, 2n = 4x = AABB) includes several subspecies with differential characteristics in their root system architecture (RSA). Subspecies durum has longer and more vertical roots, while subspecies turgidum has smaller and shallower roots. The homeologous genes TtDro1A and TtDro1B of both subspecies have been identified and found to differ in their sizes, sequences and the proteins they encode. To determine whether there is a relationship between the level of expression of these two genes and the angle adopted by the roots of durum wheat seedlings, their expressions has been studied by RT-qPCR, both in the primary seminal root and in the other seminal roots. The results of the analyses showed that the TtDro1A gene is expressed 1.4 times more in the primary seminal root than in the other seminal roots. Furthermore, this gene is expressed 2.49 to 8.76 times more than TtDro1B depending on root type (primary or seminal) and subspecies. There are positive correlations between the expression ratio of both genes (TtDro1A/TtDro1B) and the mean of all root angles, the most vertical root angle and the most horizontal root angle of the seedlings. The higher the expression of TtDro1B gene, the lower the root growth angles.
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Koyama T, Murakami S, Karasawa T, Ejiri M, Shiono K. Complete root specimen of plants grown in soil-filled root box: sampling, measuring, and staining method. PLANT METHODS 2021; 17:97. [PMID: 34544441 PMCID: PMC8454053 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-021-00798-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Detailed datasets containing root system and its architecture in soil are required to improve understanding of resource capture by roots. However, most of the root study methods have paid little attention to make and preserve whole root specimens. This study introduces root system sampling equipment that makes the entire root specimen with minimum impairment and without displacement of the spatial arrangement of the root system in root boxes. The objectives are to assess: whether the equipment can rapidly sample the entire root system; whether root surface area is measurable from a scanned digital image of the root specimen; and whether staining of the entire root specimens would provide multidimensional visual information on the interaction between soil and physiological function of root system architecture (RSA). For validation, we examined the root response of two soybean cultivars to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation and the effect of waterlogging stress on the physiological activity of buckwheat RSA. RESULTS The root boxes allowed soybean and buckwheat plants to grow uniformly across the replications. Both species showed significant differences between cultivars and/or among treatments in shoot and root traits. The equipment enabled to sample the whole-root specimens of soybean and buckwheat, where the tips of the fine roots were alive (diameter < 0.2 mm). Also, the whole root specimens of soybean were made in about 7 min. The root surface area calculated from the scanned soybean specimens showed a significant correlation with that calculated from the roots spread out in water (a common method). Staining of the soybean root specimens enabled us to observe the localized root proliferation induced by AM colonization. Moreover, staining of the buckwheat root specimens made it possible to examine the respiratory activity of each root at different depths. CONCLUSIONS The present method realized: fast and accurate production of the whole root specimen and precise calculation of the specimens' root surface area. Moreover, staining of the root specimens enabled analyzing the interaction between soil and physiological function of RSA. The evaluation of root traits, using our methods, will contribute to developing agronomic management and breeding program for sustainable food production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Koyama
- School of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, 350 Mine-machi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, 321-8505, Japan.
| | - Shun Murakami
- School of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, 350 Mine-machi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, 321-8505, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Karasawa
- Central Region Agricultural Research Center (Kanto, Tokai and Hokuriku Regions), National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-18 Kannondai, Tsukuba, 305-8666, Japan
| | - Masato Ejiri
- Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Fukui Prefectural University, 4-1-1 Matsuoka-Kenjojima, Eiheiji, Fukui, 910-1195, Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Shiono
- Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Fukui Prefectural University, 4-1-1 Matsuoka-Kenjojima, Eiheiji, Fukui, 910-1195, Japan
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Nakhforoosh A, Nagel KA, Fiorani F, Bodner G. Deep soil exploration vs. topsoil exploitation: distinctive rooting strategies between wheat landraces and wild relatives. PLANT AND SOIL 2020; 459:397-421. [PMID: 33603255 PMCID: PMC7870630 DOI: 10.1007/s11104-020-04794-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Diversity of root systems among genetic resources can contribute to optimize water and nutrient uptake. Topsoil exploitation vs. deep soil exploration represent two contrasting ideotypes in relation to resource use. Our study reveals how rooting patterns changed between wheat wild progenitors and landraces in regard to these ideotypes. METHODS Root (partitioning, morphology, distribution, elongation, anatomy) and shoot traits (dry-matter, leaf area, assimilation) of durum landraces, wild emmer and wild einkorn from Iran, Syria, Turkey and Lebanon were phenotyped using the GrowScreen-Rhizo platform. Distinctive rooting patterns were identified via principal component analysis and relations with collection site characteristics analyzed. RESULTS Shoot trait differentiation was strongly driven by seed weight, leading to superior early vigor of landraces. Wild progenitors formed superficial root systems with a higher contribution of lateral and early-emerging nodal axes to total root length. Durum landraces had a root system dominated by seminal axes allocated evenly over depth. Xylem anatomy was the trait most affected by the environmental influence of the collection site. CONCLUSIONS The durum landrace root system approximated a deep soil exploration ideotype which would optimize subsoil water uptake, while monococcum-type wild einkorn was most similar to a topsoil exploiting strategy with potential competitive advantages for subsistence in natural vegetation. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11104-020-04794-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Nakhforoosh
- Division of Agronomy, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz-Straße 24, A-3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
- Global Institute of Food Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W9 Canada
| | - Kerstin A. Nagel
- IBG-2: Plant Sciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Fabio Fiorani
- IBG-2: Plant Sciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Gernot Bodner
- Division of Agronomy, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz-Straße 24, A-3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
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Shorinola O, Kaye R, Golan G, Peleg Z, Kepinski S, Uauy C. Genetic Screening for Mutants with Altered Seminal Root Numbers in Hexaploid Wheat Using a High-Throughput Root Phenotyping Platform. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2019; 9:2799-2809. [PMID: 31352407 PMCID: PMC6723138 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.400537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Roots are the main channel for water and nutrient uptake in plants. Optimization of root architecture provides a viable strategy to improve nutrient and water uptake efficiency and maintain crop productivity under water-limiting and nutrient-poor conditions. We know little, however, about the genetic control of root development in wheat, a crop supplying 20% of global calorie and protein intake. To improve our understanding of the genetic control of seminal root development in wheat, we conducted a high-throughput screen for variation in seminal root number using an exome-sequenced mutant population derived from the hexaploid wheat cultivar Cadenza. The screen identified seven independent mutants with homozygous and stably altered seminal root number phenotypes. One mutant, Cadenza0900, displays a recessive extra seminal root number phenotype, while six mutants (Cadenza0062, Cadenza0369, Cadenza0393, Cadenza0465, Cadenza0818 and Cadenza1273) show lower seminal root number phenotypes most likely originating from defects in the formation and activation of seminal root primordia. Segregation analysis in F2 populations suggest that the phenotype of Cadenza0900 is controlled by multiple loci whereas the Cadenza0062 phenotype fits a 3:1 mutant:wild-type segregation ratio characteristic of dominant single gene action. This work highlights the potential to use the sequenced wheat mutant population as a forward genetic resource to uncover novel variation in agronomic traits, such as seminal root architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwaseyi Shorinola
- Bioscience Eastern and Central Africa - International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, PO Box 30709, Kenya
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Ryan Kaye
- Centre for Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK, and
| | - Guy Golan
- The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Zvi Peleg
- The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Stefan Kepinski
- Centre for Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK, and
| | - Cristobal Uauy
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
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Richard CAI, Hickey LT, Fletcher S, Jennings R, Chenu K, Christopher JT. High-throughput phenotyping of seminal root traits in wheat. PLANT METHODS 2015; 11:13. [PMID: 25750658 PMCID: PMC4351910 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-015-0055-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Water availability is a major limiting factor for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in rain-fed agricultural systems worldwide. Root system architecture has important functional implications for the timing and extent of soil water extraction, yet selection for root architectural traits in breeding programs has been limited by a lack of suitable phenotyping methods. The aim of this research was to develop low-cost high-throughput phenotyping methods to facilitate selection for desirable root architectural traits. Here, we report two methods, one using clear pots and the other using growth pouches, to assess the angle and the number of seminal roots in wheat seedlings- two proxy traits associated with the root architecture of mature wheat plants. RESULTS Both methods revealed genetic variation for seminal root angle and number in the panel of 24 wheat cultivars. The clear pot method provided higher heritability and higher genetic correlations across experiments compared to the growth pouch method. In addition, the clear pot method was more efficient - requiring less time, space, and labour compared to the growth pouch method. Therefore the clear pot method was considered the most suitable for large-scale and high-throughput screening of seedling root characteristics in crop improvement programs. CONCLUSIONS The clear-pot method could be easily integrated in breeding programs targeting drought tolerance to rapidly enrich breeding populations with desirable alleles. For instance, selection for narrow root angle and high number of seminal roots could lead to deeper root systems with higher branching at depth. Such root characteristics are highly desirable in wheat to cope with anticipated future climate conditions, particularly where crops rely heavily on stored soil moisture at depth, including some Australian, Indian, South American, and African cropping regions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lee T Hickey
- />The University of Queensland, QAAFI, St Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Susan Fletcher
- />Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Leslie Research Facility, Toowoomba, QLD 4350 Australia
| | - Raeleen Jennings
- />Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Leslie Research Facility, Toowoomba, QLD 4350 Australia
| | - Karine Chenu
- />The University of Queensland, QAAFI, 203 Tor Street, Toowoomba, QLD 4350 Australia
| | - Jack T Christopher
- />The University of Queensland, QAAFI, Leslie Research Facility, Toowoomba, QLD 4350 Australia
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Elazab A, Molero G, Serret MD, Araus JL. Root traits and δ 13C and δ 18O of durum wheat under different water regimes. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2012; 39:379-393. [PMID: 32480790 DOI: 10.1071/fp11237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2011] [Accepted: 03/13/2012] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Plant growth, root characteristics and the stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) composition were studied in durum wheat. Four recombinant inbred lines with good agronomic adaptation were grown under well watered (WW) and water stress (WS) conditions until mid-grain filling in lysimeters. Gas exchange was measured in the flag leaf just before harvest and then the aerial dry matter (Aerial DM), root weight density (RWD) and root length density (RLD) and the specific root length (SRL) were evaluated and the δ13C and δ18O of the roots, the flag leaf blade and the spike were analysed. Water stress decreased stomatal conductance, plant accumulated transpiration and Aerial DM, whereas δ13C and δ18O increased. Genotypic differences were found for all gas-exchange and root traits and isotope signatures. Aerial DM was positively correlated with RLD, regardless of the water regime, whereas it was negatively correlated with δ13C and δ18O, but only under WW conditions. Moreover, RWD and RLD were negatively related to both δ13C and δ18O under the WW regime, but no clear pattern existed under WS. Our study supports the use of δ13C and δ18O as proxies for selecting root traits associated with higher growth in the absence of water stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelhalim Elazab
- Unitat de Fisiologia Vegetal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Molero
- Unitat de Fisiologia Vegetal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Dolores Serret
- Unitat de Fisiologia Vegetal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jos Luis Araus
- Unitat de Fisiologia Vegetal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Watt M, Schneebeli K, Dong P, Wilson IW. The shoot and root growth of Brachypodium and its potential as a model for wheat and other cereal crops. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2009; 36:960-969. [PMID: 32688707 DOI: 10.1071/fp09214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2009] [Accepted: 09/18/2009] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The grass genetic model Brachypodium (Brachypodium distachyon (L.) Beauv., sequenced line Bd 21) was studied from germination to seed production to assess its potential as a phenotypic model for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and other cereal crops. Brachypodium and wheat shoot and root development and anatomy were highly similar. Main stem leaves and tillers (side shoots) emerged at the same time in both grasses in four temperature and light environments. Both developed primary and nodal axile roots at similar leaf stages with the same number and arrangement of vascular xylem tracheary elements (XTEs). Brachypodium, unlike wheat, had an elongated a mesocotyl above the seed and developed only one fine primary axile root from the base of the embryo, while wheat generally has three to five. Roots of both grasses could develop first, second and third order branches that emerged from phloem poles. Both developed up to two nodal axile roots from the coleoptile node at leaf 3, more than eight nodal axile roots from stem nodes after leaf 4, and most (97%) of the deepest roots at flowering were branches. In long days Brachypodium flowered 30 days after emergence, and root systems ceased descent 42 cm from the soil surface, such that mature roots can be studied readily in much smaller soil volumes than wheat. Brachypodium has the overwhelming advantage of a small size, fast life cycle and small genome, and is an excellent model to study cereal root system genetics and function, as well as genes for resource partitioning in whole plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Watt
- CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | | | - Pan Dong
- CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Iain W Wilson
- CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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Rebetzke GJ, López-Castañeda C, Acuña TLB, Condon AG, Richards RA. Inheritance of coleoptile tiller appearance and size in wheat. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1071/ar07397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Selection for rapid leaf area growth has the potential to increase wheat biomass, and both water-use efficiency and weed competitiveness early in the season. Several morphological components contribute to increased seedling leaf area, including rapid seedling emergence and production of longer, wider leaves. Early emergence of a large coleoptile tiller has also been demonstrated to increase plant leaf area and biomass in wheat and other grass seedlings. Yet little is known of the extent and nature of genotypic variation for coleoptile tiller growth in wheat. A random set of 35 wheat, barley, and triticale genotypes was evaluated in glasshouse and outdoor studies for seedling characteristics, including coleoptile tiller growth and total plant leaf area. Coleoptile tillers were produced more reliably for seedlings grown outdoors and when supplied with additional soil nitrogen. Genotypic differences in coleoptile tiller frequency and leaf area were large, ranging from 0 to 78% and from 0.0 to 1.4 cm2, respectively at very early growth stages. Australian commercial wheats tended to produce fewer coleoptile tillers of smaller size than overseas germplasm where the coleoptile tiller accounted for up to 12% of total seedling leaf area. This compared favourably with mainstem tiller leaf area, which ranged from 0 to 3.5 cm2 and accounted for up to 16% of plant leaf area. Broad-sense heritabilities were high for coleoptile tiller presence and size in favourable conditions (c. 75%) but low (c. 40%) for seedlings evaluated across nitrogen content-varying soils. Generation means analysis was used to investigate genetic control for coleoptile tiller growth across multiple populations. Significant (P < 0.05) differences were observed among generations for coleoptile tiller frequency and growth (numbers of leaves, leaf area, and biomass). These differences reflected strong additive genetic control with little evidence for any gene action × year interaction. Increases in coleoptile tiller frequency and mass were correlated with larger embryo size and wider seedling leaves to increase seedling leaf area (rg = 0.89). Comparisons between reciprocal F1 and F2 generation means indicated strong maternal effects for coleoptile tiller growth in some but not all crosses. Screening in favourable environments will increase heritability and aid in selection for progenies producing large coleoptile tillers. Evidence for additive genetic control should permit early generation selection but not without some progeny-testing for coleoptile tiller growth together with other early vigour components associated with increased plant leaf area.
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Watt M, Magee LJ, McCully ME. Types, structure and potential for axial water flow in the deepest roots of field-grown cereals. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2008; 178:135-146. [PMID: 18221246 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02358.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Deep root systems that extend into moist soil can significantly increase plant productivity. Here, the components of soil-grown root systems of wheat, barley and triticale are characterized, and types and water conducting potential of deep roots in the field are assessed. Root system components were characterized in plants grown in soil in PVC tubes, based on their origin and number and the arrangement of xylem tracheary elements (XTE) viewed using fluorescence microscopy. A new nomenclature is proposed. Deep roots were harvested in the field, and root types of the current crop and remnant roots from previous crops were identified by fluorescence and cryo-scanning electron microscopy. Four types of axile (framework) and five types of branch root were distinguished in the three cereals. Six per cent of deep roots were axile roots that originated from the base of the embryo; 94% were branch roots, of which 48% had only two XTE (10 microm diameter), and thus potentially low axial flow. Only 30% of roots in the cores were from the current crop, the remainder being remnants. Selection for more deep-penetrating axile roots and increased vascular capacity of deep branches is of potential benefit. Conventional root-length density measurements should be interpreted and applied cautiously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Watt
- CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Linda J Magee
- CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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