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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; 29:856-864. [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] [MESH Headings] [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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2
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Holz M, Zarebanadkouki M, Benard P, Hoffmann M, Dubbert M. Root and rhizosphere traits for enhanced water and nutrients uptake efficiency in dynamic environments. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1383373. [PMID: 39145194 PMCID: PMC11322101 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1383373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Modern agriculture's goal of improving crop resource acquisition efficiency relies on the intricate relationship between the root system and the soil. Root and rhizosphere traits play a critical role in the efficient use of nutrients and water, especially under dynamic environments. This review emphasizes a holistic perspective, challenging the conventional separation of nutrient and water uptake processes and the necessity for an integrated approach. Anticipating climate change-induced increase in the likelihood of extreme weather events that result in fluctuations in soil moisture and nutrient availability, the study explores the adaptive potential of root and rhizosphere traits to mitigate stress. We emphasize the significance of root and rhizosphere characteristics that enable crops to rapidly respond to varying resource availabilities (i.e. the presence of water and mobile nutrients in the root zone) and their accessibility (i.e. the possibility to transport resources to the root surface). These traits encompass for example root hairs, mucilage and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) exudation, rhizosheath formation and the expression of nutrient and water transporters. Moreover, we recognize the challenge of balancing carbon investments, especially under stress, where optimized traits must consider carbon-efficient strategies. To advance our understanding, the review calls for well-designed field experiments, recognizing the limitations of controlled environments. Non-destructive methods such as mini rhizotron assessments and in-situ stable isotope techniques, in combination with destructive approaches such as root exudation analysis, are proposed for assessing root and rhizosphere traits. The integration of modeling, experimentation, and plant breeding is essential for developing resilient crop genotypes capable of adapting to evolving resource limitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maire Holz
- Landscape Functioning, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Mohsen Zarebanadkouki
- Soil Biophysics and Environmental Systems, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
| | - Pascal Benard
- Physics of Soils and Terrestrial Ecosystems, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mathias Hoffmann
- Landscape Functioning, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Maren Dubbert
- Landscape Functioning, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg, Germany
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3
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Wild AJ, Steiner FA, Kiene M, Tyborski N, Tung SY, Koehler T, Carminati A, Eder B, Groth J, Vahl WK, Wolfrum S, Lueders T, Laforsch C, Mueller CW, Vidal A, Pausch J. Unraveling root and rhizosphere traits in temperate maize landraces and modern cultivars: Implications for soil resource acquisition and drought adaptation. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024; 47:2526-2541. [PMID: 38515431 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14898] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
A holistic understanding of plant strategies to acquire soil resources is pivotal in achieving sustainable food security. However, we lack knowledge about variety-specific root and rhizosphere traits for resource acquisition, their plasticity and adaptation to drought. We conducted a greenhouse experiment to phenotype root and rhizosphere traits (mean root diameter [Root D], specific root length [SRL], root tissue density, root nitrogen content, specific rhizosheath mass [SRM], arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi [AMF] colonization) of 16 landraces and 22 modern cultivars of temperate maize (Zea mays L.). Our results demonstrate that landraces and modern cultivars diverge in their root and rhizosphere traits. Although landraces follow a 'do-it-yourself' strategy with high SRLs, modern cultivars exhibit an 'outsourcing' strategy with increased mean Root Ds and a tendency towards increased root colonization by AMF. We further identified that SRM indicates an 'outsourcing' strategy. Additionally, landraces were more drought-responsive compared to modern cultivars based on multitrait response indices. We suggest that breeding leads to distinct resource acquisition strategies between temperate maize varieties. Future breeding efforts should increasingly target root and rhizosphere economics, with SRM serving as a valuable proxy for identifying varieties employing an outsourcing resource acquisition strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas J Wild
- Agroecology, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Franziska A Steiner
- Soil Science, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Marvin Kiene
- Animal Ecology I, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Nicolas Tyborski
- Ecological Microbiology, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Shu-Yin Tung
- Institute for Agroecology and Organic Farming, Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture, Freising, Germany
- School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Tina Koehler
- Soil Physics, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- Physics of Soils and Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Carminati
- Physics of Soils and Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Eder
- Institute for Crop Science and Plant Breeding, Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL), Freising, Germany
| | - Jennifer Groth
- Institute for Crop Science and Plant Breeding, Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL), Freising, Germany
| | - Wouter K Vahl
- Institute for Crop Science and Plant Breeding, Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL), Freising, Germany
| | - Sebastian Wolfrum
- Institute for Agroecology and Organic Farming, Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture, Freising, Germany
| | - Tillmann Lueders
- Ecological Microbiology, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Christian Laforsch
- Animal Ecology I, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Carsten W Mueller
- Chair of Soil Science, Institute of Ecology, Technische Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alix Vidal
- Soil Biology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Johanna Pausch
- Agroecology, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
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Kaachra A, Suri A, Kumar S. An improved and convenient petri plate-based method for studying the root growth of plants. MethodsX 2024; 12:102505. [PMID: 38162146 PMCID: PMC10755038 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant scientists across the globe are interested in studying the root growth architecture of plants to understand different processes determining growth and development in plants. In the majority of cases, root growth-related experiments are carried out on petri plates filled with solid nutrient media. However, plants growing in these plates are often exposed to conditions that are not close to the natural conditions. Also, it is difficult to pour two different media on the same plate which is quite a useful feature to study the effect of specific treatment on plant growth. In the present work, we describe an improved and easy-to-use petri plate system useful for studying root growth characteristics of young plants grown over solid nutrient media. In comparison to the conventional methods, the present plate system offers an advantage in terms of facilitating the pouring of two different media in the same plate, avoiding contact of the aerial part of the plant with nutrient media, and ensuring the growth of roots under dark conditions. The described plate, therefore, provides a convenient system to study root growth under conditions close to natural conditions and hence minimizing experimental artifacts. •The plate system facilitates the pouring of two different nutrient media into the same plate.•The aerial part of the seedling does not come in contact with the media.•Ensures growth of roots under dark conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anish Kaachra
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh 176061, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Anantika Suri
- Department of Biotechnology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab 143005, India
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan-1, Pusa, New Delhi 110012, India
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5
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Zhang Y, Wu X, Wang X, Dai M, Peng Y. Crop root system architecture in drought response. J Genet Genomics 2024:S1673-8527(24)00100-0. [PMID: 38723744 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Drought is a natural disaster that profoundly impacts on global agricultural production, significantly reduces crop yields, and thereby poses a severe threat to worldwide food security. Addressing the challenge of effectively improving crop drought resistance (DR) to mitigate yield loss under drought conditions is a global issue. An optimal root system architecture (RSA) plays a pivotal role in enhancing crops' capacity to efficiently uptake water and nutrients, which consequently strengthens their resilience against environmental stresses. In this review, we discuss the compositions and roles of crop RSA and summarize the most recent developments in augmenting drought tolerance in crops by manipulating RSA-related genes. Based on the current research, we propose the potential optimal RSA configuration that could be helpful in enhancing crop DR. Lastly, we discussed the existing challenges and future directions for breeding crops with enhanced DR capabilities through genetic improvements targeting RSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjun Zhang
- College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; Crop Research Institute, Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest Cold and Arid Regions, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Xi Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, HuBei 430070, China
| | - Xingrong Wang
- Crop Research Institute, Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest Cold and Arid Regions, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Mingqiu Dai
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, HuBei 430070, China.
| | - Yunling Peng
- College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China.
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Voothuluru P, Wu Y, Sharp RE. Not so hidden anymore: Advances and challenges in understanding root growth under water deficits. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:1377-1409. [PMID: 38382086 PMCID: PMC11062450 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Limited water availability is a major environmental factor constraining plant development and crop yields. One of the prominent adaptations of plants to water deficits is the maintenance of root growth that enables sustained access to soil water. Despite early recognition of the adaptive significance of root growth maintenance under water deficits, progress in understanding has been hampered by the inherent complexity of root systems and their interactions with the soil environment. We highlight selected milestones in the understanding of root growth responses to water deficits, with emphasis on founding studies that have shaped current knowledge and set the stage for further investigation. We revisit the concept of integrated biophysical and metabolic regulation of plant growth and use this framework to review central growth-regulatory processes occurring within root growth zones under water stress at subcellular to organ scales. Key topics include the primary processes of modifications of cell wall-yielding properties and osmotic adjustment, as well as regulatory roles of abscisic acid and its interactions with other hormones. We include consideration of long-recognized responses for which detailed mechanistic understanding has been elusive until recently, for example hydrotropism, and identify gaps in knowledge, ongoing challenges, and opportunities for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Voothuluru
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Yajun Wu
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Robert E Sharp
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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Schmutz A, Schöb C. Coadaptation of coexisting plants enhances productivity in an agricultural system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2305517121. [PMID: 38621135 PMCID: PMC11047107 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305517121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Growing crops in more diverse crop systems (i.e., intercropping) is one way to produce food more sustainably. Even though intercropping, compared to average monocultures, is generally more productive, the full yield potential of intercropping might not yet have been achieved as modern crop cultivars are bred to be grown in monoculture. Breeding plants for more familiarity in mixtures, i.e., plants that are adapted to more diverse communities (i.e., adaptation) or even to coexist with each other (i.e., coadaptation) might have the potential to sustainably enhance productivity. In this study, the productivity benefits of familiarity through evolutionary adaptation and coevolutionary coadaptation were disentangled in a crop system through an extensive common garden experiment. Furthermore, evolutionary and coevolutionary effects on species-level and community-level productivity were linked to corresponding changes in functional traits. We found evidence for higher productivity and trait convergence with increasing familiarity with the plant communities. Furthermore, our results provide evidence for the coevolution of plants in mixtures leading to higher productivity of coadapted species. However, with the functional traits measured in our study, we could not fully explain the productivity benefits found upon coevolution. Our study investigated coevolution among randomly interacting plants and was able to demonstrate that coadaptation through coevolution of coexisting species in mixtures occurs and promotes ecosystem functioning (i.e., higher productivity). This result is particularly relevant for the diversification of agricultural and forest ecosystems, demonstrating the added value of artificially selecting plants for the communities they are familiar with.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Schmutz
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zürich, 8092Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Schöb
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zürich, 8092Zurich, Switzerland
- Área Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
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8
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Grosu E, Singh Rathore D, Garcia Cabellos G, Enright AM, Mullins E. Ensifer adhaerens strain OV14 seed application enhances Triticum aestivum L. and Brassica napus L. development. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27142. [PMID: 38495150 PMCID: PMC10943344 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Given the challenges imposed by climate change and societal challenges, the European Union established ambitious goals as part of its Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy. Focussed on accelerating the transition to systems of sustainable food production, processing and consumption, a key element of F2F is to reduce the use of fertilisers by at least 20% and plant protection products by up to 50% by 2030. In recent years, a substantial body of research has highlighted the potential impact of microbial-based applications to support crop production practices through both biotic/abiotic stresses via maintaining or even improving yields and reducing reliance on intensive chemical inputs. Here, we have characterised the ability of a new soil-borne free-living bacterium strain Ensifer adhaerens OV14 (EaOV14) to significantly enhance crop vigour index by up to 50% for monocot (wheat, Triticum aestivum L., p < 0.0001) and by up to 40% for dicot (oilseed rape, Brassica napus L., p < 0.0001) species under in-vitro conditions (n = 360 seedlings/treatment). The beneficial effect was further studied under controlled glasshouse growing conditions (n = 60 plants/treatment) where EaOV14 induced significantly increased seed yield of spring oilseed rape compared to the controls (p < 0.0001). Moreover, using bespoke rhizoboxes, enhanced root architecture (density, roots orientation, roots thickness etc.) was observed for spring oilseed rape and winter wheat, with the median number of roots 55% and 33% higher for oilseed rape and wheat respectively, following EaOV14 seed treatment compared to the control. In addition, EaOV14 treatment increased root tip formation and root volume, suggesting the formation of a more robust root system architecture post-seed treatment. However, like other microbial formulations, the trade-offs associated with field translation, such as loss or limited functionality due to inoculum formulation or environmental distress, need further investigation. Moreover, the delivery method requires further optimisation to identify the optimal inoculum formulation that will maximise the expected beneficial impact on yield under field growing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Grosu
- Crop Science Department, Teagasc, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland
- EnviroCORE, South East Technological University Carlow, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, Ireland
| | | | | | - Anne-Marie Enright
- EnviroCORE, South East Technological University Carlow, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, Ireland
| | - Ewen Mullins
- Crop Science Department, Teagasc, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland
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9
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Kalra A, Goel S, Elias AA. Understanding role of roots in plant response to drought: Way forward to climate-resilient crops. THE PLANT GENOME 2024; 17:e20395. [PMID: 37853948 DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Drought stress leads to a significant amount of agricultural crop loss. Thus, with changing climatic conditions, it is important to develop resilience measures in agricultural systems against drought stress. Roots play a crucial role in regulating plant development under drought stress. In this review, we have summarized the studies on the role of roots and root-mediated plant responses. We have also discussed the importance of root system architecture (RSA) and the various structural and anatomical changes that it undergoes to increase survival and productivity under drought. Various genes, transcription factors, and quantitative trait loci involved in regulating root growth and development are also discussed. A summarization of various instruments and software that can be used for high-throughput phenotyping in the field is also provided in this review. More comprehensive studies are required to help build a detailed understanding of RSA and associated traits for breeding drought-resilient cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anmol Kalra
- Department of Botany, University of Delhi, North Campus, Delhi, India
| | - Shailendra Goel
- Department of Botany, University of Delhi, North Campus, Delhi, India
| | - Ani A Elias
- ICFRE - Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (ICFRE - IFGTB), Coimbatore, India
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10
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Noor M, Kiran A, Shahbaz M, Sanaullah M, Wakeel A. Root system architecture associated zinc variability in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Sci Rep 2024; 14:1781. [PMID: 38245570 PMCID: PMC10799890 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52338-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Root system architecture (RSA) plays a fundamental role in nutrient uptake, including zinc (Zn). Wheat grains are inheritably low in Zn. As Zn is an essential nutrient for plants, improving its uptake will not only improve their growth and yield but also the nutritional quality of staple grains. A rhizobox study followed by a pot study was conducted to evaluate Zn variability with respect to RSA and its impact on grain Zn concentration. The grain Zn content of one hundred wheat varieties was determined and grown in rhizoboxes with differential Zn (no Zn and 0.05 mg L-1 ZnSO4). Seedlings were harvested 12 days after sowing, and root images were taken and analyzed by SmartRoot software. Using principal component analysis, twelve varieties were screened out based on vigorous and weaker RSA with high and low grain Zn content. The screened varieties were grown in pots with (11 mg ZnSO4 kg-1 soil) and without Zn application to the soil. Zinc translocation, localization, and agronomic parameters were recorded after harvesting at maturity. In the rhizobox experiment, 4% and 8% varieties showed higher grain Zn content with vigorous and weaker RSA, respectively, while 45% and 43% varieties had lower grain Zn content with vigorous and weaker RSA. However, the pot experiment revealed that varieties with vigorous root system led to higher grain yield, though the grain Zn concentration were variable, while all varieties with weaker root system had lower yield as well as grain Zn concentration. Zincol-16 revealed the highest Zn concentration (28.07 mg kg-1) and grain weight (47.9 g). Comparatively higher level of Zn was localized in the aleurone layer than in the embryonic region and endosperm. It is concluded that genetic variability exists among wheat varieties for RSA and grain Zn content, with a significant correlation. Therefore, RSA attributes are promising targets for the Zn biofortification breeding program. However, Zn localization in endosperm needs to be further investigated to achieve the goal of reducing Zn malnutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehwish Noor
- Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan
| | - Aysha Kiran
- Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan.
| | - Muhammad Shahbaz
- Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Sanaullah
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Wakeel
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan.
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11
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Galindo-Castañeda T, Hartmann M, Lynch JP. Location: root architecture structures rhizosphere microbial associations. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:594-604. [PMID: 37882632 PMCID: PMC10773995 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Root architectural phenotypes are promising targets for crop breeding, but root architectural effects on microbial associations in agricultural fields are not well understood. Architecture determines the location of microbial associations within root systems, which, when integrated with soil vertical gradients, determines the functions and the metabolic capability of rhizosphere microbial communities. We argue that variation in root architecture in crops has important implications for root exudation, microbial recruitment and function, and the decomposition and fate of root tissues and exudates. Recent research has shown that the root microbiome changes along root axes and among root classes, that root tips have a unique microbiome, and that root exudates change within the root system depending on soil physicochemical conditions. Although fresh exudates are produced in larger amounts in root tips, the rhizosphere of mature root segments also plays a role in influencing soil vertical gradients. We argue that more research is needed to understand specific root phenotypes that structure microbial associations and discuss candidate root phenotypes that may determine the location of microbial hotspots within root systems with relevance to agricultural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Hartmann
- Department of Environmental Systems Service, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan P Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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12
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Gifford ML, Xu G, Dupuy LX, Vissenberg K, Rebetzke G. Root architecture and rhizosphere-microbe interactions. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:503-507. [PMID: 38197460 PMCID: PMC10773993 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad488] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Plant roots fulfil crucial tasks during a plant's life. As roots encounter very diverse conditions while exploring the soil for resources, their growth and development must be responsive to changes in the rhizosphere, resulting in root architectures that are tailor-made for all prevailing circumstances. Using multi-disciplinary approaches, we are gaining more intricate insights into the regulatory mechanisms directing root system architecture. This Special Issue provides insights into our advancement of knowledge on different aspects of root development and identifies opportunities for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam L Gifford
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Guohua Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Lionel X Dupuy
- Department of Conservation of Natural Resources, Neiker, Derio, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Kris Vissenberg
- Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Agriculture, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Stavromenos PC 71410, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Greg Rebetzke
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, PO Box 1700, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
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Hostetler AN, Morais de Sousa Tinoco S, Sparks EE. Root responses to abiotic stress: a comparative look at root system architecture in maize and sorghum. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:553-562. [PMID: 37798135 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Under all environments, roots are important for plant anchorage and acquiring water and nutrients. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding how root architecture contributes to stress tolerance in a changing climate. Two closely related plant species, maize and sorghum, have distinct root system architectures and different levels of stress tolerance, making comparative analysis between these two species an ideal approach to resolve this knowledge gap. However, current research has focused on shared aspects of the root system that are advantageous under abiotic stress conditions rather than on differences. Here we summarize the current state of knowledge comparing the root system architecture relative to plant performance under water deficit, salt stress, and low phosphorus in maize and sorghum. Under water deficit, steeper root angles and deeper root systems are proposed to be advantageous for both species. In saline soils, a reduction in root length and root number has been described as advantageous, but this work is limited. Under low phosphorus, root systems that are shallow and wider are beneficial for topsoil foraging. Future work investigating the differences between these species will be critical for understanding the role of root system architecture in optimizing plant production for a changing global climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Hostetler
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19711, USA
| | | | - Erin E Sparks
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19711, USA
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Thathapalli Prakash P, Chebotarov D, Zhang J, Kudrna DA, Torres RO, Natividad MA, Quintana MR, Song J, Maldonado CE, Hechanova SL, Jena K, Wing RA, Henry A. Oryza glumaepatula: A wild relative to improve drought tolerance in cultivated rice. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 193:2381-2397. [PMID: 37665979 PMCID: PMC10663109 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Developing drought-resistant rice (Oryza sativa, L.) is essential for improving field productivity, especially in rain-fed areas affected by climate change. Wild relatives of rice are potential sources for drought-resistant traits. Therefore, we compared root growth and drought response among 22 wild Oryza species, from which Oryza glumaepatula was selected as a promising source for further exploration. A geographically diverse panel of 69 O. glumaepatula accessions was then screened for drought stress-related traits, and 6 of these accessions showed lower shoot dry weight (SDW) reduction, greater percentage of deep roots, and lower stomatal density (STO) under drought than the drought tolerant O. sativa variety, Sahbhagi dhan. Based on whole-genome resequencing of all 69 O. glumaepatula accessions and variant calling to a high-quality O. glumaepatula reference genome, we detected multiple genomic loci colocating for SDW, root dry weight at 30 to 45 cm depth, and STO in consecutive drought trials. Geo-referencing indicated that the potential drought donors originated in flood-prone locations, corroborating previous hypotheses about the coexistence of flood and drought tolerance within individual Oryza genomes. These findings present potential donor accessions, traits, and genomic loci from an AA genome wild relative of rice that, together with the recently developed reference genome, may be useful for further introgression of drought tolerance into the O. sativa backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parthiban Thathapalli Prakash
- Rice Breeding Innovations Department, International Rice Research Institute, UPLB Campus, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Dmytro Chebotarov
- Rice Breeding Innovations Department, International Rice Research Institute, UPLB Campus, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - Jianwei Zhang
- Arizona Genomics Institute, School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - David A Kudrna
- Arizona Genomics Institute, School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Rolando O Torres
- Rice Breeding Innovations Department, International Rice Research Institute, UPLB Campus, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - Mignon A Natividad
- Rice Breeding Innovations Department, International Rice Research Institute, UPLB Campus, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - Marinell R Quintana
- Rice Breeding Innovations Department, International Rice Research Institute, UPLB Campus, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - Jiaming Song
- Arizona Genomics Institute, School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Carlos E Maldonado
- Arizona Genomics Institute, School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Sherry Lou Hechanova
- Rice Breeding Innovations Department, International Rice Research Institute, UPLB Campus, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - Kshirod Jena
- Rice Breeding Innovations Department, International Rice Research Institute, UPLB Campus, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
| | - Rod A Wing
- Arizona Genomics Institute, School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Amelia Henry
- Rice Breeding Innovations Department, International Rice Research Institute, UPLB Campus, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
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Han J, Zhang Y, Xi H, Zeng J, Peng Z, Ali G, Liu Y. Maize, wheat, and soybean root traits depend upon soil phosphorus fertility and mycorrhizal status. MYCORRHIZA 2023; 33:359-368. [PMID: 37821597 DOI: 10.1007/s00572-023-01126-4] [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: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Strong effects of plant identity, soil nutrient availability or mycorrhizal fungi on root traits have been well documented, but their interactive influences on root traits are still poorly understood. Here, three crop species (maize, wheat and soybean) were grown under four phosphorus (P) addition levels (0, 20, 40 and 60 mg P kg-1 dry soil), and plants were inoculated with or without five combined arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) species. Plant biomass, nutrient contents, root traits (including total root length, average root diameter, specific root length and root tissue density) and plants' mycorrhizal responses were measured. Crop species, P level, AMF, and their interactions strongly affected plant biomass and root traits. P fertilization promoted plant growth but reduced mycorrhizal benefits on plant biomass and nutrient uptake. Root traits of maize were sensitive to P addition only under the non-mycorrhizal condition, whilst most root traits of soybean and wheat plants were responsive to mycorrhizal inoculation but not P addition. Mycorrhizal colonization reduced the root plasticity in response to P fertility for maize but not for wheat or soybean. This study highlights the importance of soil nutrient fertility and mycorrhizal symbiosis in influencing root traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayao Han
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yali Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Hao Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Jing Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Zhenling Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Gohar Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yongjun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
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Dalal M, Mansi, Mayandi K. Zoom-in to molecular mechanisms underlying root growth and function under heterogeneous soil environment and abiotic stresses. PLANTA 2023; 258:108. [PMID: 37898971 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04262-5] [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: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION The review describes tissue-specific and non-cell autonomous molecular responses regulating the root system architecture and function in plants. Phenotypic plasticity of roots relies on specific molecular and tissue specific responses towards local and microscale heterogeneity in edaphic factors. Unlike gravitropism, hydrotropism in Arabidopsis is regulated by MIZU KUSSIE1 (MIZ1)-dependent asymmetric distribution of cytokinin and activation of Arabidopsis response regulators, ARR16 and ARR17 on the lower water potential side of the root leading to higher cell division and root bending. The cortex specific role of Abscisic acid (ABA)-activated SNF1-related protein kinase 2.2 (SnRK2.2) and MIZ1 in elongation zone is emerging for hydrotropic curvature. Halotropism involves clathrin-mediated internalization of PIN FORMED 2 (PIN2) proteins at the side facing higher salt concentration in the root tip, and ABA-activated SnRK2.6 mediated phosphorylation of cortical microtubule-associated protein Spiral2-like (SP2L) in the root transition zone, which results in anisotropic cell expansion and root bending away from higher salt. In hydropatterning, Indole-3-acetic acid 3 (IAA3) interacts with SUMOylated-ARF7 (Auxin response factor 7) and prevents expression of Lateral organ boundaries-domain 16 (LBD16) in air-side of the root, while on wet side of the root, IAA3 cannot repress the non-SUMOylated-ARF7 thereby leading to LBD16 expression and lateral root development. In root vasculature, ABA induces expression of microRNA165/microRNA166 in endodermis, which moves into the stele to target class III Homeodomain leucine zipper protein (HD-ZIP III) mRNA in non-cell autonomous manner. The bidirectional gradient of microRNA165/6 and HD-ZIP III mRNA regulates xylem patterning under stress. Understanding the tissue specific molecular mechanisms regulating the root responses under heterogeneous and stress environments will help in designing climate-resilient crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Dalal
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India.
| | - Mansi
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Karthikeyan Mayandi
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Takayama 8916-5, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
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Rahmati Ishka M, Julkowska M. Tapping into the plasticity of plant architecture for increased stress resilience. F1000Res 2023; 12:1257. [PMID: 38434638 PMCID: PMC10905174 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.140649.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant architecture develops post-embryonically and emerges from a dialogue between the developmental signals and environmental cues. Length and branching of the vegetative and reproductive tissues were the focus of improvement of plant performance from the early days of plant breeding. Current breeding priorities are changing, as we need to prioritize plant productivity under increasingly challenging environmental conditions. While it has been widely recognized that plant architecture changes in response to the environment, its contribution to plant productivity in the changing climate remains to be fully explored. This review will summarize prior discoveries of genetic control of plant architecture traits and their effect on plant performance under environmental stress. We review new tools in phenotyping that will guide future discoveries of genes contributing to plant architecture, its plasticity, and its contributions to stress resilience. Subsequently, we provide a perspective into how integrating the study of new species, modern phenotyping techniques, and modeling can lead to discovering new genetic targets underlying the plasticity of plant architecture and stress resilience. Altogether, this review provides a new perspective on the plasticity of plant architecture and how it can be harnessed for increased performance under environmental stress.
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18
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Veenstra RL, Hefley TJ, Berning D, Messina CD, Haag LA, Prasad PV, Ciampitti IA. Predicting corn tiller development in restrictive environments can be achieved to enhance defensive management decision tools for producers. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1223961. [PMID: 37600203 PMCID: PMC10436094 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1223961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Introduction While globally appreciated for reliable, intensification-friendly phenotypes, modern corn (Zea mays L.) genotypes retain crop plasticity potential. For example, weather and heterogeneous field conditions can overcome phenotype uniformity and facilitate tiller expression. Such plasticity may be of interest in restrictive or otherwise variable environments around the world, where corn production is steadily expanding. No substantial effort has been made in available literature to predict tiller development in field scenarios, which could provide insight on corn plasticity capabilities and drivers. Therefore, the objectives of this investigation are as follows: 1) identify environment, management, or combinations of these factors key to accurately predict tiller density dynamics in corn; and 2) test outof-season prediction accuracy for identified factors. Methods Replicated field trials were conducted in 17 diverse site-years in Kansas (United States) during the 2019, 2020, and 2021 seasons. Two modern corn genotypes were evaluated with target plant densities of 25000, 42000, and 60000 plants ha -1. Environmental, phenological, and morphological data were recorded and evaluated with generalized additive models. Results Plant density interactions with cumulative growing degree days, photothermal quotient, mean minimum and maximum daily temperatures, cumulative vapor pressure deficit, soil nitrate, and soil phosphorus were identified as important predictive factors of tiller density. Many of these factors had stark non-limiting thresholds. Factors impacting growth rates and photosynthesis (specifically vapor pressure deficit and maximum temperatures) were most sensitive to changes in plant density. Out-of-season prediction errors were seasonally variable, highlighting model limitations due to training datasets. Discussion This study demonstrates that tillering is a predictable plasticity mechanism in corn, and therefore could be incorporated into decision tools for restrictive growing regions. While useful for diagnostics, these models are limited in forecast utility and should be coupled with appropriate decision theory and risk assessments for producers in climatically and socioeconomically vulnerable environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L. Veenstra
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Trevor J. Hefley
- Department of Statistics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Dan Berning
- Corteva Agriscience Agronomy Sciences, Johnston, IA, United States
| | - Carlos D. Messina
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Lucas A. Haag
- Northwest Research-Extension Center, Kansas State University, Colby, KS, United States
| | - P.V. Vara Prasad
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
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19
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Adu MO, Zigah N, Yawson DO, Amoah KK, Afutu E, Atiah K, Darkwa AA, Asare PA. Plasticity of root hair and rhizosheath traits and their relationship to phosphorus uptake in sorghum. PLANT DIRECT 2023; 7:e521. [PMID: 37638231 PMCID: PMC10447916 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Sorghum is an essential crop for resilient and adaptive responses to climate change. The root systems of crop plants significantly contribute to the tolerance of abiotic stresses. There is little information on sorghum genotypes' root systems and plasticity to external P supply. In this paper, we investigated the variations in root systems, as well as the responses, trait relationships, and plasticity of two sorghum genotypes (Naga Red and Naga White), popularly grown in Ghana, to five external P concentrations ([P]ext): 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg P kg-1 soil. Sorghum plants were grown in greenhouse pots and harvested for root trait measurements at the five-leaf and growing point differentiation (GPD) developmental stages. The plants were responsive to [P]ext and formed rhizosheaths. The two genotypes showed similar characteristics for most of the traits measured but differed significantly in total and lateral root lengths in favor of the red genotype. For example, at the five-leaf growth stage, the lateral root length of the red and white genotypes was 22.8 and 16.2 cm, respectively, but 124 and 88.9 cm, at the GPD stage. The responses and plasticity of the root system traits, including rhizosheath, to [P]ext were more prominent, positive, and linear at the five-leaf stage than at the GPD growth stage. At the five-leaf growth stage, total root length increased by about 2.5-fold with increasing [P]ext compared to the unamended soil. At the GPD stage, however, total root length decreased by about 1.83-fold as [P]ext increased compared to the unamended soil. Specific rhizosheath weight correlated with RHD, albeit weakly, and together explained up to 59% of the variation in tissue P. Root hair density was more responsive to P supply than root hair length and showed a similar total and lateral root length pattern. Most desirable responses to P occurred at a rate of 200-300 mg P kg-1 soil. It is concluded that sorghum would form rhizosheath, and [P]ext could be critical for the early vigorous growth of sorghum's responsive root and shoot traits. Beyond the early days of development, additional P application might be necessary to sustain the responses and plasticity observed during the early growth period, but this requires further investigation, potentially under field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael O. Adu
- Department of Crop Science, School of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural SciencesUniversity of Cape CoastCape CoastGhana
| | - Nathaniel Zigah
- Department of Crop Science, School of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural SciencesUniversity of Cape CoastCape CoastGhana
| | - David O. Yawson
- Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES)The University of the West IndiesBridgetownBarbados
| | - Kwadwo K. Amoah
- Department of Crop Science, School of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural SciencesUniversity of Cape CoastCape CoastGhana
| | - Emmanuel Afutu
- Department of Crop Science, School of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural SciencesUniversity of Cape CoastCape CoastGhana
| | - Kofi Atiah
- Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural SciencesUniversity of Cape CoastCape CoastGhana
| | - Alfred A. Darkwa
- Department of Crop Science, School of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural SciencesUniversity of Cape CoastCape CoastGhana
| | - Paul A. Asare
- Department of Crop Science, School of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural SciencesUniversity of Cape CoastCape CoastGhana
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20
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Avico EH, Acevedo RM, Duarte MJ, Rodrigues Salvador A, Nunes-Nesi A, Ruiz OA, Sansberro PA. Integrating Transcriptional, Metabolic, and Physiological Responses to Drought Stress in Ilex paraguariensis Roots. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2404. [PMID: 37446965 DOI: 10.3390/plants12132404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
The appearance of water stress episodes triggers leaf abscission and decreases Ilex paraguariensis yield. To explore the mechanisms that allow it to overcome dehydration, we investigated how the root gene expression varied between water-stressed and non-stressed plants and how the modulation of gene expression was linked to metabolite composition and physiological status. After water deprivation, 5160 differentially expressed transcripts were obtained through RNA-seq. The functional enrichment of induced transcripts revealed significant transcriptional remodelling of stress-related perception, signalling, transcription, and metabolism. Simultaneously, the induction of the enzyme 9-cis-expoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) transcripts reflected the central role of the hormone abscisic acid in this response. Consequently, the total content of amino acids and soluble sugars increased, and that of starch decreased. Likewise, osmotic adjustment and radical growth were significantly promoted to preserve cell membranes and water uptake. This study provides a valuable resource for future research to understand the molecular adaptation of I. paraguariensis plants under drought conditions and facilitates the exploration of drought-tolerant candidate genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgardo H Avico
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Aplicada y Genómica Funcional, Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (IBONE-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Sgto. Cabral 2131, Corrientes W3402BKG, Argentina
| | - Raúl M Acevedo
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Aplicada y Genómica Funcional, Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (IBONE-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Sgto. Cabral 2131, Corrientes W3402BKG, Argentina
| | - María J Duarte
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Aplicada y Genómica Funcional, Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (IBONE-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Sgto. Cabral 2131, Corrientes W3402BKG, Argentina
| | - Acácio Rodrigues Salvador
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Plant Physiology under Stress Conditions, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil
| | - Adriano Nunes-Nesi
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Plant Physiology under Stress Conditions, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil
| | - Oscar A Ruiz
- Unidad de Biotecnología 1, IIB-INTECH (UNSAM-CONICET), Chascomús B7130IWA, Argentina
| | - Pedro A Sansberro
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Aplicada y Genómica Funcional, Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (IBONE-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Sgto. Cabral 2131, Corrientes W3402BKG, Argentina
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21
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Rosas MA, Sanguinet KA. Plant physiology: ARSK1, a regulator of TOR1 and mediator of P-adaptive root growth. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R359-R361. [PMID: 37160093 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Root growth inhibition under phosphorous deficiency was long hypothesized to be the result of toxic iron levels in root tips. However, a new study reveals ARSK1 and TOR1 regulate root growth within hours of phosphorous starvation prior to changes in iron accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Rosas
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences & Molecular Plant Sciences Graduate Program, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 91164, USA
| | - Karen A Sanguinet
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences & Molecular Plant Sciences Graduate Program, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 91164, USA.
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22
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Sidhu JS, Ajmera I, Arya S, Lynch JP. RootSlice-A novel functional-structural model for root anatomical phenotypes. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:1671-1690. [PMID: 36708192 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Root anatomy is an important determinant of root metabolic costs, soil exploration, and soil resource capture. Root anatomy varies substantially within and among plant species. RootSlice is a multicellular functional-structural model of root anatomy developed to facilitate the analysis and understanding of root anatomical phenotypes. RootSlice can capture phenotypically accurate root anatomy in three dimensions of different root classes and developmental zones, of both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous species. Several case studies are presented illustrating the capabilities of the model. For maize nodal roots, the model illustrated the role of vacuole expansion in cell elongation; and confirmed the individual and synergistic role of increasing root cortical aerenchyma and reducing the number of cortical cell files in reducing root metabolic costs. Integration of RootSlice for different root zones as the temporal properties of the nodal roots in the whole-plant and soil model OpenSimRoot/maize enabled the multiscale evaluation of root anatomical phenotypes, highlighting the role of aerenchyma formation in enhancing the utility of cortical cell files for improving plant performance over varying soil nitrogen supply. Such integrative in silico approaches present avenues for exploring the fitness landscape of root anatomical phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagdeep Singh Sidhu
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ishan Ajmera
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sankalp Arya
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jonathan P Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
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23
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Zhang K, Rengel Z, Zhang F, White PJ, Shen J. Rhizosphere engineering for sustainable crop production: entropy-based insights. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 28:390-398. [PMID: 36470795 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing interest in exploring interactions at root-soil interface in natural and agricultural ecosystems, but an entropy-based understanding of these dynamic rhizosphere processes is lacking. We have developed a new conceptual model of rhizosphere regulation by localized nutrient supply using thermodynamic entropy. Increased nutrient-use efficiency is achieved by rhizosphere management based on self-organization and minimized entropy via equilibrium attractors comprising (i) optimized root strategies for nutrient acquisition and (ii) improved information exchange related to root-soil-microbe interactions. The cascading effects through different hierarchical levels amplify the underlying processes in plant-soil system. We propose a strategy for manipulating rhizosphere dynamics and improving nutrient-use efficiency by localized nutrient supply with minimization of entropy to underpin sustainable food/feed/fiber production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- Centre for Resources, Environment and Food Security, Department of Plant Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zed Rengel
- Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Fusuo Zhang
- Centre for Resources, Environment and Food Security, Department of Plant Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Philip J White
- Ecological Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK
| | - Jianbo Shen
- Centre for Resources, Environment and Food Security, Department of Plant Nutrition, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
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24
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Vaisman M, Hak H, Arazi T, Spiegelman Z. The Impact of Tobamovirus Infection on Root Development Involves Induction of Auxin Response Factor 10a in Tomato. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 63:1980-1993. [PMID: 34977939 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcab179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plant viruses cause systemic diseases that severely impair plant growth and development. While the accumulation of viruses in the root system has long been established, little is known as to how viruses affect root architecture. Here, we examined how the emerging tobamovirus, tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), alters root development in tomato. We found that ToBRFV and tobacco mosaic virus both invaded root systems during the first week of infection. ToBRFV infection of tomato plants resulted in a significant decrease in root biomass and elongation and root-to-shoot ratio and a marked suppression of root branching. Mutation in RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 6 increased the susceptibility of tomato plants to ToBRFV, resulting in severe reduction of various root growth parameters including root branching. Viral root symptoms were associated with the accumulation of auxin response factor 10a (SlARF10a) transcript, a homolog of Arabidopsis ARF10, a known suppressor of lateral root development. Interestingly, loss-of-function mutation in SlARF10a moderated the effect of ToBRFV on root branching. In contrast, downregulation of sly-miR160a, which targets SlARF10a, was associated with constitutive suppression root branching independent of viral infection. In addition, overexpression of a microRNA-insensitive mutant of SlARF10a mimicked the effect of ToBRFV on root development, suggesting a specific role for SlARF10a in ToBRFV-mediated suppression of root branching. Taken together, our results provide new insights into the impact of tobamoviruses on root development and the role of ARF10a in the suppression of root branching in tomato.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Vaisman
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization-The Volcani Institute, 68 HaMaccabim Road, P.O.B 15159, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
- The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel
| | - Hagit Hak
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization-The Volcani Institute, 68 HaMaccabim Road, P.O.B 15159, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Tzahi Arazi
- Plant Sciences Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Institute, 68 HaMaccabim Road, P.O.B 15159, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Ziv Spiegelman
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization-The Volcani Institute, 68 HaMaccabim Road, P.O.B 15159, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
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Boter M, Pozas J, Jarillo JA, Piñeiro M, Pernas M. Brassica napus Roots Use Different Strategies to Respond to Warm Temperatures. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021143. [PMID: 36674684 PMCID: PMC9863162 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Elevated growth temperatures are negatively affecting crop productivity by increasing yield losses. The modulation of root traits associated with improved response to rising temperatures is a promising approach to generate new varieties better suited to face the environmental constraints caused by climate change. In this study, we identified several Brassica napus root traits altered in response to warm ambient temperatures. Different combinations of changes in specific root traits result in an extended and deeper root system. This overall root growth expansion facilitates root response by maximizing root-soil surface interaction and increasing roots' ability to explore extended soil areas. We associated these traits with coordinated cellular events, including changes in cell division and elongation rates that drive root growth increases triggered by warm temperatures. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed the main genetic determinants of these root system architecture (RSA) changes and uncovered the necessity of a tight regulation of the heat-shock stress response to adjusting root growth to warm temperatures. Our work provides a phenotypic, cellular, and genetic framework of root response to warming temperatures that will help to harness root response mechanisms for crop yield improvement under the future climatic scenario.
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Si Z, Delhaize E, Hendriks PW, Li X. Differences in Root Morphologies of Contrasting Wheat ( Triticum aestivum) Genotypes Are Robust of a Drought Treatment. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:275. [PMID: 36678988 PMCID: PMC9863919 DOI: 10.3390/plants12020275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to assess the effect of water deprivation on root traits and to establish if the wheat cultivars Spica and Maringa would be useful as parental germplasm for a genetic analysis of root traits. Plants were grown in two markedly different soils under well-watered and water-limited treatments in controlled environment growth cabinets. The drought treatment was imposed as a gradual depletion of water over 28 days as seedlings grew from a defined starting moisture content. The root traits analyzed included length, nodal root number, thickness and nodal root angle. The relative differences in traits between genotypes generally proved to be robust in terms of water treatment and soil type. Maringa had a shallower nodal root angle than Spica, which was driven by the nodal roots. By contrast, the seminal roots of Maringa were found to be similar to or even steeper than those of Spica. We conclude that the differences in root traits between Spica and Maringa were robust to the drought treatment and soil types. Phenotyping on well-watered soil is relevant for identifying traits potentially involved in conferring water use efficiency. Furthermore, Spica and Maringa are suitable parental germplasm for developing populations to determine the genetics of key root traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuanyun Si
- Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Institute of Farmland Irrigation, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Emmanuel Delhaize
- Australian Plant Phenomics Facility, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Pieter-Willem Hendriks
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, 85084 Ellesmere Junction Road, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
| | - Xiaoqing Li
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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Bui KT, Naruse T, Yoshida H, Toda Y, Omori Y, Tsuda M, Kaga A, Yamasaki Y, Tsujimoto H, Ichihashi Y, Hirai M, Fujiwara T, Iwata H, Matsuoka M, Takahashi H, Nakazono M. Effects of irrigation on root growth and development of soybean: A 3-year sandy field experiment. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1047563. [PMID: 36589062 PMCID: PMC9795411 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1047563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Increasing the water use efficiency of crops is an important agricultural goal closely related to the root system -the primary plant organ for water and nutrient acquisition. In an attempt to evaluate the response of root growth and development of soybean to water supply levels, 200 genotypes were grown in a sandy field for 3 years under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions, and 14 root traits together with shoot fresh weight and plant height were investigated. Three-way ANOVA revealed a significant effect of treatments and years on growth of plants, accounting for more than 80% of the total variability. The response of roots to irrigation was consistent over the years as most root traits were improved by irrigation. However, the actual values varied between years because the growth of plants was largely affected by the field microclimatic conditions (i.e., temperature, sunshine duration, and precipitation). Therefore, the best linear unbiased prediction values for each trait were calculated using the original data. Principal component analysis showed that most traits contributed to principal component (PC) 1, whereas average diameter, the ratio of thin and medium thickness root length to total root length contributed to PC2. Subsequently, we focused on selecting genotypes that exhibited significant improvements in root traits under irrigation than under non-irrigated conditions using the increment (I-index) and relative increment (RI-index) indices calculated for all traits. Finally, we screened for genotypes with high stability and root growth over the 3 years using the multi-trait selection index (MTSI).Six genotypes namely, GmJMC130, GmWMC178, GmJMC092, GmJMC068, GmWMC075, and GmJMC081 from the top 10% of genotypes scoring MTSI less than the selection threshold of 7.04 and 4.11 under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions, respectively, were selected. The selected genotypes have great potential for breeding cultivars with improved water usage abilities, meeting the goal of water-saving agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khuynh The Bui
- Graduate School of Bio-Agricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Faculty of Agronomy, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Toshiya Naruse
- Graduate School of Bio-Agricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hideki Yoshida
- Bioscience and Biotechnology Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yusuke Toda
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Omori
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mai Tsuda
- Tsukuba-Plant Innovation Research Center (T-PIRC), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Akito Kaga
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yuji Yamasaki
- Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | | | | | - Masami Hirai
- Graduate School of Bio-Agricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Toru Fujiwara
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Iwata
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Matsuoka
- Bioscience and Biotechnology Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Takahashi
- Graduate School of Bio-Agricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Mikio Nakazono
- Graduate School of Bio-Agricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, Australia
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Schmidt L, Nagel KA, Galinski A, Sannemann W, Pillen K, Maurer A. Unraveling Genomic Regions Controlling Root Traits as a Function of Nitrogen Availability in the MAGIC Wheat Population WM-800. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:3520. [PMID: 36559632 PMCID: PMC9785272 DOI: 10.3390/plants11243520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
An ever-growing world population demands to be fed in the future and environmental protection and climate change need to be taken into account. An important factor here is nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE), which is influenced by the root system (the interface between plant and soil). To understand the natural variation of root system architecture (RSA) as a function of nitrogen (N) availability, a subset of the multiparent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) winter wheat population WM-800 was phenotyped under two contrasting N treatments in a high-throughput phenotyping system at the seedling stage. Fourteen root and shoot traits were measured. Subsequently, these traits were genetically analyzed using 13,060 polymorphic haplotypes and SNPs in a genome-wide association study (GWAS). In total, 64 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected; 60 of them were N treatment specific. Candidate genes for the detected QTL included NRT1.1 and genes involved in stress signaling under N-, whereas candidate genes under N+ were more associated with general growth, such as mei2 and TaWOX11b. This finding may indicate (i) a disparity of the genetic control of root development under low and high N supply and, furthermore, (ii) the need for an N specific selection of genes and genotypes in breeding new wheat cultivars with improved NUpE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Schmidt
- Chair of Plant Breeding, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Kerstin A. Nagel
- IBG-2: Plant Sciences, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Research Institute Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Anna Galinski
- IBG-2: Plant Sciences, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Research Institute Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Wiebke Sannemann
- Chair of Plant Breeding, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Klaus Pillen
- Chair of Plant Breeding, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Andreas Maurer
- Chair of Plant Breeding, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, 06120 Halle, Germany
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Schneider HM. Functional implications of multiseriate cortical sclerenchyma for soil resource capture and crop improvement. AOB PLANTS 2022; 14:plac050. [PMID: 36545297 PMCID: PMC9762723 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plac050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Suboptimal nutrient and water availability are primary constraints to crop growth. Global agriculture requires crops with greater nutrient and water efficiency. Multiseriate cortical sclerenchyma (MCS), a root anatomical trait characterized by small cells with thick cell walls encrusted with lignin in the outer cortex, has been shown to be an important trait for adaptation in maize and wheat in mechanically impeded soils. However, MCS has the potential to improve edaphic stress tolerance in a number of different crop taxa and in a number of different environments. This review explores the functional implications of MCS as an adaptive trait for water and nutrient acquisition and discusses future research perspectives on this trait for incorporation into crop breeding programs. For example, MCS may influence water and nutrient uptake, resistance to pests, symbiotic interactions, microbial interactions in the rhizosphere and soil carbon deposition. Root anatomical phenotypes are underutilized; however, important breeding targets for the development of efficient, productive and resilient crops urgently needed in global agriculture.
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Li H, Li L, Liu N, Liu Z, Lu Y, Shao L. Balanced below- and above-ground growth improved yield and water productivity by cultivar renewal for winter wheat. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1022023. [PMID: 36388545 PMCID: PMC9659963 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1022023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Breeding cultivars that can maintain high production and water productivity (WP) under various growing conditions would be important for mitigating freshwater shortage problems. Experiments were carried out to assess the changes in yield and WP of different cultivars by breeding and traits related to the changes using tubes with 1.05 m depth and 19.2 cm inner diameter buried in the field located in the North China Plain. Six winter wheat cultivars released from the 1970s to 2010s were assessed under three water levels for three seasons. The results indicated that yield was on average improved by 19.9% and WP by 21.5% under the three water levels for the three seasons for the cultivar released in the 2010s as compared with that released in the 1970s. The performance of the six cultivars was relatively stable across the experimental duration. The improvement in yield was mainly attributed to the maintenance of higher photosynthetic capacity during the reproductive growth stage and greater above-ground biomass accumulation. These improvements were larger under wet conditions than that under dry conditions, indicating that the yield potential was increased by cultivar renewal. Traits related to yield and WP improvements included the increased harvest index and reduced root: shoot ratio. New cultivars reduced the redundancy in root proliferation in the topsoil layer, which did not compromise the efficient utilization of soil moisture but reduced the metabolic input in root growth. Balanced above- and below-ground growth resulted in a significant improvement in root efficiency at grain yield level up to 40% from the cultivars released in the 1970s to those recently released. The results from this study indicated that the improved efficiency in both the above- and below-parts played important roles in enhancing crop production and resource use efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haotian Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, The Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, The Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Na Liu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, The Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zimeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, The Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, The Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Liwei Shao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, The Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China
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31
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GWAS and Transcriptome Analysis Reveal Key Genes Affecting Root Growth under Low Nitrogen Supply in Maize. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13091632. [PMID: 36140800 PMCID: PMC9498817 DOI: 10.3390/genes13091632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important factors affecting crop production. Root morphology exhibits a high degree of plasticity to nitrogen deficiency. However, the mechanisms underlying the root foraging response under low-N conditions remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed 213 maize inbred lines using hydroponic systems and regarding their natural variations in 22 root traits and 6 shoot traits under normal (2 mM nitrate) and low-N (0 mM nitrate) conditions. Substantial phenotypic variations were detected for all traits. N deficiency increased the root length and decreased the root diameter and shoot related traits. A total of 297 significant marker-trait associations were identified by a genome-wide association study involving different N levels and the N response value. A total of 51 candidate genes with amino acid variations in coding regions or differentially expressed under low nitrogen conditions were identified. Furthermore, a candidate gene ZmNAC36 was resequenced in all tested lines. A total of 38 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 12 insertions and deletions were significantly associated with lateral root length of primary root, primary root length between 0 and 0.5 mm in diameter, primary root surface area, and total length of primary root under a low-N condition. These findings help us to improve our understanding of the genetic mechanism of root plasticity to N deficiency, and the identified loci and candidate genes will be useful for the genetic improvement of maize tolerance cultivars to N deficiency.
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32
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Carof M, Godinot O, Le Cadre E. Biodiversity-based cropping systems: A long-term perspective is necessary. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156022. [PMID: 35588807 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156022] [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: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity-based cropping systems are an interesting option to address the many challenges that agriculture faces. However, benefits of these systems should not obscure the fact that creating biodiversity-based cropping systems represents a major change for farmers. To address this challenge, we argue that designing biodiversity-based cropping systems requires transforming ecological concepts into technical opportunities. Indeed, integrating ecological concepts such as plant-soil feedback and plant functional traits more strongly into cropping system design offers promising opportunities for the provision of ecosystem services, such as pest and disease control, crop production (including crop yield stability), climate regulation and regulation of soil quality. Accordingly, we demonstrate that designing biodiversity-based cropping systems requires considering not only the short term but also the long term. This would ensure that the expected ecosystem services have enough time to build up and provide their full effects, that the cropping systems are resilient and that they avoid the limitations of short-term assessments, which do not sufficiently consider multi-year effects. Considering long-term consequences of system change - induced by biodiversity - is essential to identify potential trade-offs between ecosystem services, as well as agricultural obstacles to and mechanisms of change. Including farmers and other food-chain actors in cropping system design would help find acceptable compromises that consider not only the provision of ecosystem services, but also other dimensions related to economic viability, workload or the technical feasibility of crops, which are identified as major obstacles to crop diversification. This strategy represents an exciting research front for the development of agroecological cropping systems.
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Schneider HM. Characterization, costs, cues and future perspectives of phenotypic plasticity. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2022; 130:131-148. [PMID: 35771883 PMCID: PMC9445595 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcac087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plastic responses of plants to the environment are ubiquitous. Phenotypic plasticity occurs in many forms and at many biological scales, and its adaptive value depends on the specific environment and interactions with other plant traits and organisms. Even though plasticity is the norm rather than the exception, its complex nature has been a challenge in characterizing the expression of plasticity, its adaptive value for fitness and the environmental cues that regulate its expression. SCOPE This review discusses the characterization and costs of plasticity and approaches, considerations, and promising research directions in studying plasticity. Phenotypic plasticity is genetically controlled and heritable; however, little is known about how organisms perceive, interpret and respond to environmental cues, and the genes and pathways associated with plasticity. Not every genotype is plastic for every trait, and plasticity is not infinite, suggesting trade-offs, costs and limits to expression of plasticity. The timing, specificity and duration of plasticity are critical to their adaptive value for plant fitness. CONCLUSIONS There are many research opportunities to advance our understanding of plant phenotypic plasticity. New methodology and technological breakthroughs enable the study of phenotypic responses across biological scales and in multiple environments. Understanding the mechanisms of plasticity and how the expression of specific phenotypes influences fitness in many environmental ranges would benefit many areas of plant science ranging from basic research to applied breeding for crop improvement.
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34
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Cabal C. Root tragedy of the commons: Revisiting the mechanisms of a misunderstood theory. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:960942. [PMID: 35991453 PMCID: PMC9386591 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.960942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Fine root density in the soil is a plant functional trait of paramount importance for plant ecology and agriculture. Fine root proliferation by plants involves complex plant strategies that may depend on various abiotic and biotic factors. Concretely, the root tragedy of the commons (RToC) is a behavioral strategy predicted by game theory models in which interacting plants forage for soil resources inefficiently. Generally, researchers assume that the RToC is a proactive competition strategy directly induced by the non-self roots. In this opinion, I recall Hardin's original definition of the tragedy of the commons to challenge this notion. I argue that the RToC is a suboptimal phenotypically plastic response of the plants based on the soil resource information exclusively, and I discuss how this alternative perspective carries important implications for the design of experiments investigating the physiological mechanisms underlying observable plant root responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciro Cabal
- High Meadows Environmental Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, National Museum of Natural Sciences, MNCN, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
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35
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Rangarajan H, Hadka D, Reed P, Lynch JP. Multi-objective optimization of root phenotypes for nutrient capture using evolutionary algorithms. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 111:38-53. [PMID: 35426959 PMCID: PMC9544003 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Root phenotypes are avenues to the development of crop cultivars with improved nutrient capture, which is an important goal for global agriculture. The fitness landscape of root phenotypes is highly complex and multidimensional. It is difficult to predict which combinations of traits (phene states) will create the best performing integrated phenotypes in various environments. Brute force methods to map the fitness landscape by simulating millions of phenotypes in multiple environments are computationally challenging. Evolutionary optimization algorithms may provide more efficient avenues to explore high dimensional domains such as the root phenotypic space. We coupled the three-dimensional functional-structural plant model, SimRoot, to the Borg Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm (MOEA) and the evolutionary search over several generations facilitated the identification of optimal root phenotypes balancing trade-offs across nutrient uptake, biomass accumulation, and root carbon costs in environments varying in nutrient availability. Our results show that several combinations of root phenes generate optimal integrated phenotypes where performance in one objective comes at the cost of reduced performance in one or more of the remaining objectives, and such combinations differed for mobile and non-mobile nutrients and for maize (a monocot) and bean (a dicot). Functional-structural plant models can be used with multi-objective optimization to identify optimal root phenotypes under various environments, including future climate scenarios, which will be useful in developing the more resilient, efficient crops urgently needed in global agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harini Rangarajan
- Department of Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Patrick Reed
- Civil and Environmental EngineeringCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | - Jonathan P. Lynch
- Department of Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
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36
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Brooker R, Brown LK, George TS, Pakeman RJ, Palmer S, Ramsay L, Schöb C, Schurch N, Wilkinson MJ. Active and adaptive plasticity in a changing climate. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 27:717-728. [PMID: 35282996 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Better understanding of the mechanistic basis of plant plasticity will enhance efforts to breed crops resilient to predicted climate change. However, complexity in plasticity's conceptualisation and measurement may hinder fruitful crossover of concepts between disciplines that would enable such advances. We argue active adaptive plasticity is particularly important in shaping the fitness of wild plants, representing the first line of a plant's defence to environmental change. Here, we define how this concept may be applied to crop breeding, suggest appropriate approaches to measure it in crops, and propose a refocussing on active adaptive plasticity to enhance crop resilience. We also discuss how the same concept may have wider utility, such as in ex situ plant conservation and reintroductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rob Brooker
- Department of Ecological Sciences, James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, UK; Department of Ecological Sciences, James Hutton Institute, Dundee, UK.
| | - Lawrie K Brown
- Department of Ecological Sciences, James Hutton Institute, Dundee, UK
| | - Timothy S George
- Department of Ecological Sciences, James Hutton Institute, Dundee, UK
| | - Robin J Pakeman
- Department of Ecological Sciences, James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Sarah Palmer
- Institute of Biological, Environmental, and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Luke Ramsay
- Department of Ecological Sciences, James Hutton Institute, Dundee, UK
| | - Christian Schöb
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Mike J Wilkinson
- Institute of Biological, Environmental, and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK
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Shamuyarira KW, Shimelis H, Figlan S, Chaplot V. Path Coefficient and Principal Component Analyses for Biomass Allocation, Drought Tolerance and Carbon Sequestration Potential in Wheat. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:1407. [PMID: 35684180 PMCID: PMC9182935 DOI: 10.3390/plants11111407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Increased root biomass allocation could serve as a proxy trait for selecting crop ideotypes with drought tolerance and carbon sequestration potential in agricultural soils. The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of the relationship between root biomass and yield components and to identify influential traits so as to optimise genotype selection for enhanced biomass allocation, drought tolerance and carbon sequestration potential in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). One-hundred wheat genotypes consisting of 10 parents and 90 derived F2 families were evaluated under drought-stressed and non-stressed conditions at two different sites. Data were collected for days to heading (DTH), days to maturity (DTM), plant height, productive tiller number (TN), spike length, spikelets per spike (SPS), kernels per spike (KPS), thousand kernel weight (TKW), shoot biomass, root biomass, total plant biomass (PB), root-to-shoot ratio (RS) and grain yield. There was significant (p < 0.05) genetic variation in most assessed traits, TN and RS being exceptions. Root biomass had significant positive correlations with grain yield under drought-stressed (r = 0.28) and non-stressed (r = 0.41) conditions, but a non-significant correlation was recorded for RS and grain yield. Notably, both root biomass and shoot biomass had significant positive correlations under both water regimes, revealing the potential of increasing both traits with minimal biomass trade-offs. The highest positive direct effects on grain yield were found for KPS and PB under both water regimes. The present study demonstrated that selection based on KPS and PB rather than RS will be more effective in ideotype selection of segregating populations for drought tolerance and carbon sequestration potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwame W. Shamuyarira
- School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa; (H.S.); (V.C.)
| | - Hussein Shimelis
- School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa; (H.S.); (V.C.)
| | - Sandiswa Figlan
- Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, University of South Africa, Florida 1709, South Africa;
| | - Vincent Chaplot
- School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa; (H.S.); (V.C.)
- Laboratory of Oceanography and Climate, Experiments and Numerical Approaches (LOCEAN), UMR 7159, IRD/C NRS/UPMC/MNHN, IPSL, 75005 Paris, France
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Seidel SJ, Gaiser T, Srivastava AK, Leitner D, Schmittmann O, Athmann M, Kautz T, Guigue J, Ewert F, Schnepf A. Simulating Root Growth as a Function of Soil Strength and Yield With a Field-Scale Crop Model Coupled With a 3D Architectural Root Model. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:865188. [PMID: 35668793 PMCID: PMC9164166 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.865188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Accurate prediction of root growth and related resource uptake is crucial to accurately simulate crop growth especially under unfavorable environmental conditions. We coupled a 1D field-scale crop-soil model running in the SIMPLACE modeling framework with the 3D architectural root model CRootbox on a daily time step and implemented a stress function to simulate root elongation as a function of soil bulk density and matric potential. The model was tested with field data collected during two growing seasons of spring barley and winter wheat on Haplic Luvisol. In that experiment, mechanical strip-wise subsoil loosening (30-60 cm) (DL treatment) was tested, and effects on root and shoot growth at the melioration strip as well as in a control treatment were evaluated. At most soil depths, strip-wise deep loosening significantly enhanced observed root length densities (RLDs) of both crops as compared to the control. However, the enhanced root growth had a beneficial effect on crop productivity only in the very dry season in 2018 for spring barley where the observed grain yield at the strip was 18% higher as compared to the control. To understand the underlying processes that led to these yield effects, we simulated spring barley and winter wheat root and shoot growth using the described field data and the model. For comparison, we simulated the scenarios with the simpler 1D conceptual root model. The coupled model showed the ability to simulate the main effects of strip-wise subsoil loosening on root and shoot growth. It was able to simulate the adaptive plasticity of roots to local soil conditions (more and thinner roots in case of dry and loose soil). Additional scenario runs with varying weather conditions were simulated to evaluate the impact of deep loosening on yield under different conditions. The scenarios revealed that higher spring barley yields in DL than in the control occurred in about 50% of the growing seasons. This effect was more pronounced for spring barley than for winter wheat. Different virtual root phenotypes were tested to assess the potential of the coupled model to simulate the effect of varying root traits under different conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Julia Seidel
- Crop Science, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas Gaiser
- Crop Science, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Amit Kumar Srivastava
- Crop Science, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Oliver Schmittmann
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Miriam Athmann
- Organic Farming and Cropping Systems, University of Kassel, Witzenhausen, Germany
| | - Timo Kautz
- Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institut für Agrar- und Gartenbauwissenschaften, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julien Guigue
- Chair of Soil Science, TUM School of Life Sciences, Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Frank Ewert
- Crop Science, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Andrea Schnepf
- Institute for Bio- and Geosciences, IBG-3, Agrosphere, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
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39
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Woods P, Lehner KR, Hein K, Mullen JL, McKay JK. Root Pulling Force Across Drought in Maize Reveals Genotype by Environment Interactions and Candidate Genes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:883209. [PMID: 35498695 PMCID: PMC9051544 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.883209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
High-throughput, field-based characterization of root systems for hundreds of genotypes in thousands of plots is necessary for breeding and identifying loci underlying variation in root traits and their plasticity. We designed a large-scale sampling of root pulling force, the vertical force required to extract the root system from the soil, in a maize diversity panel under differing irrigation levels for two growing seasons. We then characterized the root system architecture of the extracted root crowns. We found consistent patterns of phenotypic plasticity for root pulling force for a subset of genotypes under differential irrigation, suggesting that root plasticity is predictable. Using genome-wide association analysis, we identified 54 SNPs as statistically significant for six independent root pulling force measurements across two irrigation levels and four developmental timepoints. For every significant GWAS SNP for any trait in any treatment and timepoint we conducted post hoc tests for genotype-by-environment interaction, using a mixed model ANOVA. We found that 8 of the 54 SNPs showed significant GxE. Candidate genes underlying variation in root pulling force included those involved in nutrient transport. Although they are often treated separately, variation in the ability of plant roots to sense and respond to variation in environmental resources including water and nutrients may be linked by the genes and pathways underlying this variation. While functional validation of the identified genes is needed, our results expand the current knowledge of root phenotypic plasticity at the whole plant and gene levels, and further elucidate the complex genetic architecture of maize root systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Woods
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Kevin R. Lehner
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Kirsten Hein
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Jack L. Mullen
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - John K. McKay
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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40
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Valenzuela FJ, Reineke D, Leventini D, Chen CCL, Barrett-Lennard EG, Colmer TD, Dodd IC, Shabala S, Brown P, Bazihizina N. Plant responses to heterogeneous salinity: agronomic relevance and research priorities. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2022; 129:499-518. [PMID: 35171228 PMCID: PMC9007098 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcac022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soil salinity, in both natural and managed environments, is highly heterogeneous, and understanding how plants respond to this spatiotemporal heterogeneity is increasingly important for sustainable agriculture in the era of global climate change. While the vast majority of research on crop response to salinity utilizes homogeneous saline conditions, a much smaller, but important, effort has been made in the past decade to understand plant molecular and physiological responses to heterogeneous salinity mainly by using split-root studies. These studies have begun to unravel how plants compensate for water/nutrient deprivation and limit salt stress by optimizing root-foraging in the most favourable parts of the soil. SCOPE This paper provides an overview of the patterns of salinity heterogeneity in rain-fed and irrigated systems. We then discuss results from split-root studies and the recent progress in understanding the physiological and molecular mechanisms regulating plant responses to heterogeneous root-zone salinity and nutrient conditions. We focus on mechanisms by which plants (salt/nutrient sensing, root-shoot signalling and water uptake) could optimize the use of less-saline patches within the root-zone, thereby enhancing growth under heterogeneous soil salinity conditions. Finally, we place these findings in the context of defining future research priorities, possible irrigation management and crop breeding opportunities to improve productivity from salt-affected lands.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniela Reineke
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Dante Leventini
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Edward G Barrett-Lennard
- Land Management Group, Agriculture Discipline, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, WA, Australia
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, South Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Timothy D Colmer
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Ian C Dodd
- The Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Sergey Shabala
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
- International Research Centre for Environmental Membrane Biology, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Patrick Brown
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Nadia Bazihizina
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Mateva KI, Chai HH, Mayes S, Massawe F. Natural Genotypic Variation Underpins Root System Response to Drought Stress in Bambara Groundnut [ Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.]. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:760879. [PMID: 35419010 PMCID: PMC8996172 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.760879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Bambara groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.] is grown in rainfed production systems and suffers from periodic drought stress (DS), leading to yield reductions. Natural genotypic variation for root traits is essential for adaptation to water deficit conditions. However, root traits have not been fully utilised as selection criteria to improve DS in bambara groundnut. The present study explored the natural genotypic variation found in single genotypes of bambara groundnut derived from landraces to identify adaptive differences in tap root length (TRL) and root length density (RLD) in response to DS. A diverse core collection of eight bambara groundnut genotypes from various locations (namely, Gresik, LunT, IITA-686, DodR, S19-3, Tiga nicuru, and Ankpa-4, DipC1), were grown for two seasons (2018 and 2019) in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) columns with well-watered (WW) and 30-day DS treatments. Plant samples were collected at 55 days after emergence (DAE) (30 days of DS) and at 105 DAE (30 days of DS plus 50 days of recovery). Under DS, differential TRL among genotypes at 55 DAE was observed, with DodR recording the longest among genotypes with an increase (1% in 2018) in TRL under DS compared to WW, whereas LunT and IITA-686 showed significant (p < 0.001) decrease in TRL (27 and 25%, respectively, in 2018). Average RLD was observed to have the highest reduction under DS in the 90-110 cm layer (42 and 58%, respectively, in 2018 and 2019). Rainy habitat LunT had limited roots in 2018 and recorded the least (0.06 ± 0.013 cm-3) RLD in 2019. However, dry-habitat DodR showed an increase in the RLD (60-90 cm) under DS compared to WW, while dry-habitat S19-3 densely occupied all depths with RLD of 0.16 ± 0.05 and 0.18 ± 0.01 cm cm-3 in the deepest layer in both seasons, respectively. Reduced RLD under DS showed recovery when the plants were re-watered. These plants were additionally observed to have RLD that surpasses the density in WW at all soil depths at 105 DAE. Also, recovery was shown in Tiga nicuru and DodR (0-30 cm) and IITA-686 (90-110 cm) in 2019. Average RLD under DS treatment was associated with substantial grain yield advantage (R 2 = 0.27 and R 2 = 0.49, respectively) in 2018 and 2019. An increase in TRL allowed DodR to quickly explore water at a deeper soil depth in response to gradually declining soil water availability. High RLD in genotypes such as DodR, DipC1 and S19-3 also offered adaptive advantage over other genotypes under DS. Variation in intrinsic RLD in deeper soil depths in the studied genotypes determines root foraging capacity when facing DS. This suggests that different agroecological environments to which bambara groundnut is subjected in its natural habitat have promoted a phenotypic differentiation in root systems to adapt to ecotypic conditions, which may help offset the impact of DS. The natural genotypic variation exhibited, especially by DodR, could be exploited to identify potential quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that control deep rooting and root length density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumbirai Ivyne Mateva
- Future Food Beacon, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, Malaysia
| | - Hui Hui Chai
- Future Food Beacon, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, Malaysia
| | - Sean Mayes
- Crops for the Future, National Institute of Agricultural Botany, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Festo Massawe
- Future Food Beacon, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, Malaysia
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42
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Galindo-Castañeda T, Lynch JP, Six J, Hartmann M. Improving Soil Resource Uptake by Plants Through Capitalizing on Synergies Between Root Architecture and Anatomy and Root-Associated Microorganisms. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:827369. [PMID: 35356114 PMCID: PMC8959776 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.827369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Root architectural and anatomical phenotypes are highly diverse. Specific root phenotypes can be associated with better plant growth under low nutrient and water availability. Therefore, root ideotypes have been proposed as breeding targets for more stress-resilient and resource-efficient crops. For example, root phenotypes that correspond to the Topsoil Foraging ideotype are associated with better plant growth under suboptimal phosphorus availability, and root phenotypes that correspond to the Steep, Cheap and Deep ideotype are linked to better performance under suboptimal availability of nitrogen and water. We propose that natural variation in root phenotypes translates into a diversity of different niches for microbial associations in the rhizosphere, rhizoplane and root cortex, and that microbial traits could have synergistic effects with the beneficial effect of specific root phenotypes. Oxygen and water content, carbon rhizodeposition, nutrient availability, and root surface area are all factors that are modified by root anatomy and architecture and determine the structure and function of the associated microbial communities. Recent research results indicate that root characteristics that may modify microbial communities associated with maize include aerenchyma, rooting angle, root hairs, and lateral root branching density. Therefore, the selection of root phenotypes linked to better plant growth under specific edaphic conditions should be accompanied by investigating and selecting microbial partners better adapted to each set of conditions created by the corresponding root phenotype. Microbial traits such as nitrogen transformation, phosphorus solubilization, and water retention could have synergistic effects when correctly matched with promising plant root ideotypes for improved nutrient and water capture. We propose that elucidation of the interactive effects of root phenotypes and microbial functions on plant nutrient and water uptake offers new opportunities to increase crop yields and agroecosystem sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Galindo-Castañeda
- Sustainable Agroecosystems, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Environmental System Science, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan P. Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Johan Six
- Sustainable Agroecosystems, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Environmental System Science, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Hartmann
- Sustainable Agroecosystems, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Environmental System Science, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
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43
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Ajmera I, Henry A, Radanielson AM, Klein SP, Ianevski A, Bennett MJ, Band LR, Lynch JP. Integrated root phenotypes for improved rice performance under low nitrogen availability. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2022; 45:805-822. [PMID: 35141925 PMCID: PMC9303783 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Greater nitrogen efficiency would substantially reduce the economic, energy and environmental costs of rice production. We hypothesized that synergistic balancing of the costs and benefits for soil exploration among root architectural phenes is beneficial under suboptimal nitrogen availability. An enhanced implementation of the functional-structural model OpenSimRoot for rice integrated with the ORYZA_v3 crop model was used to evaluate the utility of combinations of root architectural phenes, namely nodal root angle, the proportion of smaller diameter nodal roots, nodal root number; and L-type and S-type lateral branching densities, for plant growth under low nitrogen. Multiple integrated root phenotypes were identified with greater shoot biomass under low nitrogen than the reference cultivar IR64. The superiority of these phenotypes was due to synergism among root phenes rather than the expected additive effects of phene states. Representative optimal phenotypes were predicted to have up to 80% greater grain yield with low N supply in the rainfed dry direct-seeded agroecosystem over future weather conditions, compared to IR64. These phenotypes merit consideration as root ideotypes for breeding rice cultivars with improved yield under rainfed dry direct-seeded conditions with limited nitrogen availability. The importance of phene synergism for the performance of integrated phenotypes has implications for crop breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishan Ajmera
- Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of BiosciencesUniversity of NottinghamSutton BoningtonUK
- Department of Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Amelia Henry
- Strategic Innovation PlatformInternational Rice Research InstituteLos BañosLagunaPhilippines
| | - Ando M. Radanielson
- Strategic Innovation PlatformInternational Rice Research InstituteLos BañosLagunaPhilippines
- Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Institute for Life Sciences and the Environment, Toowoomba CampusUniversity of Southern QueenslandToowoombaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Stephanie P. Klein
- Department of Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Aleksandr Ianevski
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM)University of HelsinkiFinland
| | - Malcolm J. Bennett
- Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of BiosciencesUniversity of NottinghamSutton BoningtonUK
| | - Leah R. Band
- Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of BiosciencesUniversity of NottinghamSutton BoningtonUK
- Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology, School of Mathematical SciencesUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - Jonathan P. Lynch
- Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of BiosciencesUniversity of NottinghamSutton BoningtonUK
- Department of Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
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Kawai T, Chen Y, Takahashi H, Inukai Y, Siddique KHM. Rice Genotypes Express Compensatory Root Growth With Altered Root Distributions in Response to Root Cutting. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:830577. [PMID: 35295630 PMCID: PMC8919052 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.830577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Root systems play a pivotal role in water and nutrient uptake from soil. Lateral root (LR) growth is promoted to compensate for inhibited main root growth. Compensatory LR growth contributes to maintaining total root length (TRL) and hence water and nutrient uptake in compacted soils. However, it remains unclear how shoot and root phenotypic traits change during the compensatory growth and whether there are genotypic variations in compensatory root growth. This study analyzed shoot and root morphological traits of 20 rice genotypes, which includes mutants with altered root morphology, during the vegetative stage using a semihydroponic phenotyping system. The phenotyping experiment detected large variation in root and shoot traits among the 20 genotypes. Morphological changes induced by root cutting were analyzed in six selected genotypes with contrasting root system architecture. Root cutting significantly affected root distribution along vertical sections and among diameter classes. After root cutting, more roots distributed at shallower depth and thicker LRs developed. Furthermore, genotypes with deeper root growth without root cutting allocated more compensatory roots to deeper sections even after root cutting than the genotypes with shallower rooting. Due to the compensatory LR growth, root cutting did not significantly affect TRL, root dry weight (RDW), or shoot dry weight (SDW). To analyze the interaction between crown root (CR) number and compensatory root growth, we removed half of the newly emerged CRs in two genotypes. TRL of YRL38 increased at depth with CR number manipulation (CRM) regardless of root tip excision, which was attributed to an increase in specific root length (SRL), despite no change in RDW. Taken together, the tested rice genotypes exhibited compensatory root growth by changing root distribution at depth and in diameter classes. Reducing CR number promoted root development and compensatory growth by improving the efficiency of root development [root length (RL) per resource investment].
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsubasa Kawai
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yinglong Chen
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Hirokazu Takahashi
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Inukai
- International Center for Research and Education in Agriculture, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kadambot H. M. Siddique
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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45
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Deja-Muylle A, Opdenacker D, Parizot B, Motte H, Lobet G, Storme V, Clauw P, Njo M, Beeckman T. Genetic Variability of Arabidopsis thaliana Mature Root System Architecture and Genome-Wide Association Study. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 12:814110. [PMID: 35154211 PMCID: PMC8831901 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.814110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Root system architecture (RSA) has a direct influence on the efficiency of nutrient uptake and plant growth, but the genetics of RSA are often studied only at the seedling stage. To get an insight into the genetic blueprint of a more mature RSA, we exploited natural variation and performed a detailed in vitro study of 241 Arabidopsis thaliana accessions using large petri dishes. A comprehensive analysis of 17 RSA traits showed high variability among the different accessions, unveiling correlations between traits and conditions of the natural habitat of the plants. A sub-selection of these accessions was grown in water-limiting conditions in a rhizotron set-up, which revealed that especially the spatial distribution showed a high consistency between in vitro and ex vitro conditions, while in particular, a large root area in the lower zone favored drought tolerance. The collected RSA phenotype data were used to perform genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which stands out from the previous studies by its exhaustive measurements of RSA traits on more mature Arabidopsis accessions used for GWAS. As a result, we found not only several genes involved in the lateral root (LR) development or auxin signaling pathways to be associated with RSA traits but also new candidate genes that are potentially involved in the adaptation to the natural habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Deja-Muylle
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Davy Opdenacker
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Boris Parizot
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hans Motte
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guillaume Lobet
- Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Agrosphere (IBG-3), Jülich, Germany
| | - Veronique Storme
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pieter Clauw
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Njo
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Beeckman
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
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46
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Genome-Wide Association Study of Root System Architecture in Maize. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13020181. [PMID: 35205226 PMCID: PMC8872597 DOI: 10.3390/genes13020181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Roots are important plant organs for the absorption of water and nutrients. To date, there have been few genome-wide association studies of maize root system architecture (RSA) in the field. The genetic basis of maize RSA is poorly understood, and the maize RSA-related genes that have been cloned are very limited. Here, 421 maize inbred lines of an association panel were planted to measure the root systems at the maturity stage, and a genome-wide association study was performed. There was a strong correlation among eight RSA traits, and the RSA traits were highly correlated with the aboveground plant architecture traits (e.g., plant height and ear leaf length, r = 0.13–0.25, p < 0.05). The RSA traits of the stiff stalk subgroup (SS) showed lower values than those of the non-stiff stalk subgroup (NSS) and tropical/subtropical subgroup (TST). Using the RSA traits, the genome-wide association study identified 63 SNPs and 189 candidate genes. Among them, nine candidate genes co-localized between RSA and aboveground architecture traits. A further co-expression analysis identified 88 candidate genes having high confidence levels. Furthermore, we identified four highly reliable RSA candidate genes, GRMZM2G099797, GRMZM2G354338, GRMZM2G085042, and GRMZM5G812926. This research provides theoretical support for the genetic improvement of maize root systems, and it identified candidate genes that may act as genetic resources for breeding.
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Chin S, Blancaflor EB. Plant Gravitropism: From Mechanistic Insights into Plant Function on Earth to Plants Colonizing Other Worlds. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2368:1-41. [PMID: 34647245 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1677-2_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Gravitropism, the growth of roots and shoots toward or away from the direction of gravity, has been studied for centuries. Such studies have not only led to a better understanding of the gravitropic process itself, but also paved new paths leading to deeper mechanistic insights into a wide range of research areas. These include hormone biology, cell signal transduction, regulation of gene expression, plant evolution, and plant interactions with a variety of environmental stimuli. In addition to contributions to basic knowledge about how plants function, there is accumulating evidence that gravitropism confers adaptive advantages to crops, particularly under marginal agricultural soils. Therefore, gravitropism is emerging as a breeding target for enhancing agricultural productivity. Moreover, research on gravitropism has spawned several studies on plant growth in microgravity that have enabled researchers to uncouple the effects of gravity from other tropisms. Although rapid progress on understanding gravitropism witnessed during the past decade continues to be driven by traditional molecular, physiological, and cell biological tools, these tools have been enriched by technological innovations in next-generation omics platforms and microgravity analog facilities. In this chapter, we review the field of gravitropism by highlighting recent landmark studies that have provided unique insights into this classic research topic while also discussing potential contributions to agriculture on Earth and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Chin
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
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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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P. Lynch
- Department of Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPA16802USA
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Fonta JE, Vejchasarn P, Henry A, Lynch JP, Brown KM. Many paths to one goal: Identifying integrated rice root phenotypes for diverse drought environments. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:959629. [PMID: 36072326 PMCID: PMC9441928 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.959629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Drought is a major source of yield loss in the production of rice (Oryza sativa L.), and cultivars that maintain yield under drought across environments and drought stress scenarios are urgently needed. Root phenotypes directly affect water interception and uptake, so plants with root systems optimized for water uptake under drought would likely exhibit reduced yield loss. Deeper nodal roots that have a low metabolic cost per length (i.e., cheaper roots) via smaller root diameter and/or more aerenchyma and that transport water efficiently through smaller diameter metaxylem vessels may be beneficial during drought. Subsets of the Rice Diversity Panel 1 and Azucena × IR64 recombinant inbred lines were grown in two greenhouse and two rainout shelter experiments under drought stress to assess their shoot, root anatomical, and root architectural phenotypes. Root traits and root trait plasticity in response to drought varied with genotype and environment. The best-performing groups in the rainout shelter experiments had less plasticity of living tissue area in nodal roots than the worst performing groups. Root traits under drought were partitioned into similar groups or clusters via the partitioning-around-medoids algorithm, and this revealed two favorable integrated root phenotypes common within and across environments. One favorable integrated phenotype exhibited many, deep nodal roots with larger root cross-sectional area and more aerenchyma, while the other favorable phenotype exhibited many, deep nodal roots with small root cross-sectional area and small metaxylem vessels. Deeper roots with high theoretical axial hydraulic conductance combined with reduced root metabolic cost contributed to greater shoot biomass under drought. These results reflect how some root anatomical and architectural phenes work in concert as integrated phenotypes to influence the performance of plant under drought stress. Multiple integrated root phenotypes are therefore recommended to be selected in breeding programs for improving rice yield across diverse environments and drought scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna E. Fonta
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Plant Biology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA, United States
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Phanchita Vejchasarn
- Rice Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Ubon Ratchathani Rice Research Center, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
| | - Amelia Henry
- Rice Breeding Innovations Platform, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Philippines
| | - Jonathan P. Lynch
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Kathleen M. Brown
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Kathleen M. Brown,
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Burridge JD, Grondin A, Vadez V. Optimizing Crop Water Use for Drought and Climate Change Adaptation Requires a Multi-Scale Approach. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:824720. [PMID: 35574091 PMCID: PMC9100818 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.824720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Selection criteria that co-optimize water use efficiency and yield are needed to promote plant productivity in increasingly challenging and variable drought scenarios, particularly dryland cereals in the semi-arid tropics. Optimizing water use efficiency and yield fundamentally involves transpiration dynamics, where restriction of maximum transpiration rate helps to avoid early crop failure, while maximizing grain filling. Transpiration restriction can be regulated by multiple mechanisms and involves cross-organ coordination. This coordination involves complex feedbacks and feedforwards over time scales ranging from minutes to weeks, and from spatial scales ranging from cell membrane to crop canopy. Aquaporins have direct effect but various compensation and coordination pathways involve phenology, relative root and shoot growth, shoot architecture, root length distribution profile, as well as other architectural and anatomical aspects of plant form and function. We propose gravimetric phenotyping as an integrative, cross-scale solution to understand the dynamic, interwoven, and context-dependent coordination of transpiration regulation. The most fruitful breeding strategy is likely to be that which maintains focus on the phene of interest, namely, daily and season level transpiration dynamics. This direct selection approach is more precise than yield-based selection but sufficiently integrative to capture attenuating and complementary factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D. Burridge
- DIADE Group, Cereal Root Systems, Institute de Recherche pour le Développement/Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- *Correspondence: James D. Burridge,
| | - Alexandre Grondin
- DIADE Group, Cereal Root Systems, Institute de Recherche pour le Développement/Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Adaptation des Plantes et Microorganismes Associés aux Stress Environnementaux, Laboratoire Mixte International, Dakar, Senegal
- Centre d’Étude Régional pour l’Amélioration de l’Adaptation à la Sécheresse, Thiès, Senegal
| | - Vincent Vadez
- DIADE Group, Cereal Root Systems, Institute de Recherche pour le Développement/Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Adaptation des Plantes et Microorganismes Associés aux Stress Environnementaux, Laboratoire Mixte International, Dakar, Senegal
- Centre d’Étude Régional pour l’Amélioration de l’Adaptation à la Sécheresse, Thiès, Senegal
- International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, India
- Vincent Vadez,
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