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A Simple Protocol for Mapping the Plant Root System Architecture Traits
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Phenotyping field-state wheat root system architecture for root foraging traits in response to environment×management
Xinxin Chen1, Yinian Li1, Ruiyin He1
1College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Intelligent Agricultural Equipment of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, 210031, China.
Scientific Reports
|February 10, 2018
Summary
Wheat root foraging performance, linked to root system architecture (RSA), was studied over two years. Crop season significantly impacted root foraging traits more than tillage, with EVURL showing promise as an indicator.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Plant Physiology
- Agronomy
Background:
- Root system architecture (RSA) is crucial for below-ground crop physiology and root foraging.
- Understanding root foraging traits (RFTs) in response to environmental and management factors is vital for crop improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To phenotype wheat RSA for RFTs under different environment x management interactions.
- To analyze specific RSA-derived traits (RHA, AREV, CHV, EVURL) for their relationship with RFTs.
- To determine the relative influence of crop season and tillage on RFTs.
Main Methods:
- A 2-year field experiment was conducted to phenotype wheat RSA.
- Four RSA-derived traits: Root horizontal angle (RHA), axial root expansion volume (AREV), RSA convex hull volume (CHV), and effective volume per unit root length (EVURL) were analyzed.
- Pro/E assisted modeling was employed for phenotyping integrated RFTs.
Main Results:
- AREV increased with root developmental stages, indicating better root performance in the first year.
- CHV varied significantly between years and tillage treatments, correlating with root length.
- EVURL demonstrated sensitivity to both tillage and crop seasons, suggesting its potential as an RFT indicator.
Conclusions:
- Crop season had a statistically greater impact on RFTs than tillage treatments.
- EVURL is a potential indicator for root foraging traits.
- Pro/E assisted modeling is an effective tool for phenotyping integrated RSA-derived RFTs.
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