Improving root-soil adaptability by modifying root system architecture in rice

Plant root systems serve essential roles in soil anchorage, water uptake, and nutrient acquisition. Root system architecture (RSA) refers to the spatial arrangement of the root system in the soil, reflecting the geometric arrangement of root axes and the structure, morphology, and anatomy of root branches. Rice (Oryza sativa) is a key cereal crop with a hierarchically organized root system that consists of embryonically derived primary roots and postembryonic crown roots, together with their associated lateral roots and root hairs, each of which exhibits specialized structural modifications. This review systematically examines key architectural components of the rice root system; the stress-responsive RSA traits that contribute to abiotic stress resilience and/or tolerance; and precise strategic approaches for the development of optimized root ideotypes through integrated phenotyping and genomic technologies.