Maize responds to low shoot P concentration by altering root morphology rather than increasing root exudation

Wen, Zhihui; Li, Haigang; Shen, Jianbo; Rengel, Zed

doi:10.1007/s11104-017-3214-0

Cited by 110 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 98 publications

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“…Below‐ground processes related to P acquisition are controlled by plant internal P status and/or P availability in the rooting medium (Shane et al ., ; Giehl et al ., ; Wen et al ., ). Generally, modifications of root morphology, the release of P‐mobilizing exudates and colonization with AMF are enhanced by shoot P starvation or low soil P availability, and are suppressed at a high shoot P status or with increasing soil P availability (called ‘generalized pattern’ here; Li et al ., ; Teng et al ., ; Deng et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The analysis of carboxylates and acid phosphatase activity followed the method of Shen et al . () and Neumann (), which have been described elsewhere (Zhang et al ., ; Wen et al ., ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Case studies have provided valuable insights through comparison of the root responses of crop species to varying P supply. Some crops, such as maize ( Zea mays ) and wheat ( Triticum aestivum ), show stronger root morphological responses than physiological responses to P deficiency (Lyu et al ., ; Deng et al ., ; Wen et al ., ). Other crops, such as faba bean ( Vicia faba ) and Chickpea ( Cicer arietinum ), exhibit a poor root morphological response to changing P supply, but a significant modification in root exudation (Liu et al ., ; Lyu et al ., ; Zhang et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…This experimental evidence indicates potential coordination or tradeoffs among diverse root functional traits in response to low P among crop species; as a result, species may exhibit distinct below‐ground strategies to enhance P acquisition. However, most studies focused on independent changes or pairwise combinations of root morphology, exudation and mycorrhizal symbioses with a limited number of crop species (Brown et al ., ; Lyu et al ., ; Deng et al ., ; Wen et al ., ). Thus, it is necessary to examine the three groups of root functional traits simultaneously across a large number of crop species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Tradeoffs among root morphology, exudation and mycorrhizal symbioses for phosphorus‐acquisition strategies of 16 crop species

et al. 2019

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Summary Plant roots exhibit diverse root functional traits to enable soil phosphorus (P) acquisition, including changes in root morphology, root exudation and mycorrhizal symbioses. Yet, whether these traits are differently coordinated among crop species to enhance P acquisition is unclear. Here, eight root functional traits for P acquisition were characterized in 16 major herbaceous crop species grown in a glasshouse under limiting and adequate soil P availability. We found substantial interspecific variation in root functional traits among species. Those with thinner roots showed more root branching and less first‐order root length, and had consistently lower colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), fewer rhizosheath carboxylates and reduced acid phosphatase activity. In response to limiting soil P, species with thinner roots showed a stronger response in root branching, first‐order root length and specific root length of the whole root system, Conversely, species with thicker roots exhibited higher colonization by AMF and/or more P‐mobilizing exudates in the rhizosheath. We conclude that, at the species level, tradeoffs occur among the three groups of root functional traits we examined. Root diameter is a good predictor of the relative expression of these traits and how they change when P is limiting.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The analysis of carboxylates and acid phosphatase activity followed the method of Shen et al . () and Neumann (), which have been described elsewhere (Zhang et al ., ; Wen et al ., ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Tradeoffs among root morphology, exudation and mycorrhizal symbioses for phosphorus‐acquisition strategies of 16 crop species

et al. 2019

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“…Similarly, total root length and fine root length in the soil volume corresponding to the P-rich patch were divided by total root length of the target maize in the whole rhizo-box; both root traits were used to compare foraging capacity in the homogeneous and heterogeneous treatments (Mou et al, 1997;Jing et al, 2010;H. B. Li et al, 2014;Wen et al, 2017).…”

Section: Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neighbouring plants modify maize root foraging for phosphorus: coupling nutrients and neighbours for improved nutrient‐use efficiency

Zhang

Lyu

et al. 2019

New Phytologist

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Summary Nutrient distribution and neighbours can impact plant growth, but how neighbours shape root‐foraging strategy for nutrients is unclear. Here, we explore new patterns of plant foraging for nutrients as affected by neighbours to improve nutrient acquisition. Maize (Zea mays) was grown alone (maize), or with maize (maize/maize) or faba bean (Vicia faba) (maize/faba bean) as a neighbour on one side and with or without a phosphorus (P)‐rich zone on the other in a rhizo‐box experiment. Maize demonstrated root avoidance in maize/maize, with reduced root growth in ‘shared’ soil, and increased growth away from its neighbours. Conversely, maize proliferated roots in the proximity of neighbouring faba bean roots that had greater P availability in the rhizosphere (as a result of citrate and acid phosphatase exudation) compared with maize roots. Maize proliferated more roots, but spent less time to reach, and grow out of, the P patches away from neighbours in the maize/maize than in the maize/faba bean experiment. Maize shoot biomass and P uptake were greater in the heterogeneous P treatment with maize/faba bean than with maize/maize system. The foraging strategy of maize roots is an integrated function of heterogeneous distribution of nutrients and neighbouring plants, thus improving nutrient acquisition and maize growth. Understanding the foraging patterns is critical for optimizing nutrient management in crops.

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The niche complementarity driven by rhizosphere interactions enhances phosphorus‐use efficiency in maize/alfalfa mixture

Wang

Hou

Zhang

et al. 2020

Food and Energy Security

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Maize responds to low shoot P concentration by altering root morphology rather than increasing root exudation

Cited by 110 publications

References 98 publications

Tradeoffs among root morphology, exudation and mycorrhizal symbioses for phosphorus‐acquisition strategies of 16 crop species

Tradeoffs among root morphology, exudation and mycorrhizal symbioses for phosphorus‐acquisition strategies of 16 crop species

Neighbouring plants modify maize root foraging for phosphorus: coupling nutrients and neighbours for improved nutrient‐use efficiency

The niche complementarity driven by rhizosphere interactions enhances phosphorus‐use efficiency in maize/alfalfa mixture

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