Root anatomical traits contribute to deeper rooting of maize under compacted field conditions

Vanhees, Dorien J.; Loades, Kenneth; Bengough, A. Glyn; Mooney, Sacha J.; Lynch, Jonathan P.

doi:10.1093/jxb/eraa165

Cited by 55 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 80 publications

(129 reference statements)

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“…The ability of roots to penetrate compacted soil and root depth are correlated to both root anatomical phenes such as RCA, CCS and CCFN, as well as root diameter, where deeper-rooting plants in compacted soil showed reduced CCFN and increased RCA formation. Additionally, root thickening in the form of root cortical area expansion were closely related to soil mechanical impedance in some genotypes (Chimungu et al, 2015b;Vanhees et al, 2020). Smaller outer band cortical cells could reduce the risk of root collapse when encountering increased mechanical impedance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enlarged cortical cells and reduced cortical cell file number improve growth under suboptimal nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability

Yang

2020

Preprint

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AbstractReduced cortical cell files (CCFN) and enlarged cortical cells (CCS) reduce root maintenance costs. We used OpenSimRoot, a functional-structural model, to test the hypothesis that larger CCS, reduced CCFN, and their interactions with root cortical aerenchyma (RCA), are useful adaptations to suboptimal soil N, P, and K availability. Interactions of CCS and CCFN with lateral root branching density (LRBD) and increased carbon availability were evaluated under limited N, P and K availability. The combination of larger CCS and reduced CCFN increases the growth of maize up to 105%, 106%, and 144%, respectively, under limited N, P, or K availability. Interactions among larger CCS, reduced CCFN, and greater RCA results in combined growth benefits of up to 135%, 132%, and 161% under limited N, P, and K levels, respectively. Under low phosphorus and potassium availability, increased LRBD approximately doubles the utility of larger CCS and reduced CCFN. The utility of larger CCS and reduced CCFN is reduced by greater C availability as may occur in future climate scenarios. Our results support the hypothesis that larger CCS, reduced CCFN, and their interactions with RCA could increase nutrient acquisition by reducing root respiration and root nutrient demand. Phene synergisms may exist between CCS, CCFN, and LRBD. Natural genetic variation in CCS and CCFN merit consideration for breeding cereal crops with improved nutrient acquisition, which is critical for global food security.One sentence summaryFunctional-structural modeling indicates that enlarged root cortical cells and reduced cortical cell file number decrease root maintenance cost, permitting greater soil exploration, resource capture, and plant growth under suboptimal nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enlarged cortical cells and reduced cortical cell file number improve growth under suboptimal nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability

Yang

2020

Preprint

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“…Tables Table 1 -Root anatomical phenes and their abbreviations. All phenes were measured according to Vanhees et al (2020). Linear relationships between root angle and the penetration rate for each pot in the study.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, studies have documented species differences (Iijima et al, 2007;Colombi, 2016) rather than genotypic differences in response to mechanical impedance. Genotypic differences in anatomical response to mechanical impedance have only been studied in a few cases in wheat (Colombi, 2017(Colombi, , 2019 and maize (Chimungu et al, 2015;Vanhees et al, 2020).…”

Section: Root Thickening Was Driven By Cortical Cell Size Expansion Rmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genotypic variation in soil penetration by maize roots is negatively related to ethylene-induced thickening

Vanhees

Schneider

Loades

et al. 2021

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Radial expansion is a classic response of roots to mechanical impedance that has generally been assumed to aid penetration. We analysed the response of maize nodal roots to impedance to test the hypothesis that radial expansion is not related to the ability of roots to cross a compacted soil layer. Genotypes varied in their ability to cross the compacted layer, and those with a steeper approach to the compacted layer or less radial expansion in the compacted layer were more likely to cross the layer and achieve greater depth. Root radial expansion was due to cortical cell size expansion, while cortical cell file number remained constant. Genotypes and nodal root classes that exhibited radial expansion upon encountering the compacted soil layer also thickened in response to exogenous ethylene in hydroponic culture, i.e. radial expansion in response to ethylene was correlated with the thickening response to impedance in soil. We propose that ethylene insensitive roots, i.e. those that do not thicken and are able to overcome impedance, have a competitive advantage under mechanically impeded conditions as they can maintain their elongation rates. We suggest that prolonged exposure to ethylene could function as a stop signal for axial root growth.

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“…In most cases, thicker roots with larger stele and xylem areas are associated with deep rooting phenotypes, as xylem vessels in the stele are required for water uptake to increase root hydraulic conductivity (Price et al 2002, Uga et al 2008. Recent findings in maize lines show that root thickness itself is not related to rooting depth (Vanhees et al 2020). Similarly, thicker roots are believed to enhance longitudinal oxygen diffusion by reducing the resistance to gas-phase diffusion (Colmer 2003b).…”

Section: Contribution Of Root Tissue Size To the Adaptation To Droughmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate-smart crops: key root anatomical traits that confer flooding tolerance

2021

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Root anatomical traits contribute to deeper rooting of maize under compacted field conditions

Cited by 55 publications

References 80 publications

Enlarged cortical cells and reduced cortical cell file number improve growth under suboptimal nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability

Enlarged cortical cells and reduced cortical cell file number improve growth under suboptimal nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability

Genotypic variation in soil penetration by maize roots is negatively related to ethylene-induced thickening

Climate-smart crops: key root anatomical traits that confer flooding tolerance

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