Root Trait Diversity in Field Grown Durum Wheat and Comparison with Seedlings

Abstract

Roots are important for crop adaptation, particularly in dryland environments. We evaluated root development of 37 durum wheat genotypes (modern cultivars and landraces) in the field at the adult plant stage, through a shovelomics approach. Large genotypic variability was found for root traits. Differences between the landraces and modern cultivars were the main driver of this variation, with landraces showing higher plant vigor for roots and shoots. Nonetheless, genotypic variation within groups was also observed, related to different models of root growth, largely independent of total root length. These two models represented root growth were oriented either to occupy more soil volume, or to occupy less soil volume with increased density. The field results were then compared with root data previously collected in seedlings using a filter paper-based method, to assess whether early root anticipated adult root features. Field plants showed a narrower root angle than seedlings. In particular, landraces presented a narrower root angle than cultivars, but only at seedling stage. Potentially useful correlations were found between the two growth stages for root length and number.

Balanced below- and above-ground growth improved yield and water productivity by cultivar renewal for winter wheat

“…The gradual decrease in root biomass of wheat cultivars introduced over the last 50 years of breeding processes to increase grain yield by reducing nutrient allocations to root growth ( Aziz et al., 2017 ). In general, cultivars with economical root structure under specific circumstances are conducive to the improvement of grain yield ( Van Oosterom et al., 2016 ; Lynch, 2018 ; Boudiar et al., 2021 ).…”