scholarly journals Large root systems: are they useful in adapting wheat to dry environments?

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jairo A. Palta ◽  
Xing Chen ◽  
Stephen P. Milroy ◽  
Greg J. Rebetzke ◽  
M. Fernanda Dreccer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Root Traits ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
System Size ◽  
Large Root ◽  
Additional Water

There is little consensus on whether having a large root system is the best strategy in adapting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to water-limited environments. We explore the reasons for the lack of consensus and aim to answer the question of whether a large root system is useful in adapting wheat to dry environments. We used unpublished data from glasshouse and field experiments examining the relationship between root system size and their functional implication for water capture. Individual root traits for water uptake do not describe a root system as being large or small. However, the recent invigoration of the root system in wheat by indirect selection for increased leaf vigour has enlarged the root system through increases in root biomass and length and root length density. This large root system contributes to increasing the capture of water and nitrogen early in the season, and facilitates the capture of additional water for grain filling. The usefulness of a vigorous root system in increasing wheat yields under water-limited conditions maybe greater in environments where crops rely largely on seasonal rainfall, such as the Mediterranean-type environments. In environments where crops are reliant on stored soil water, a vigorous root system increases the risk of depleting soil water before completion of grain filling.

THE INFLUENCE OF WATER AVAILABILITY ON WINTER WHEAT YIELDS

1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 831-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. JOHNSON ◽  
E. T. KANEMASU
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Kernel Weight ◽  
Additional Treatment ◽  
Treatment Regimes ◽  
Influence Of Water ◽  
Soil Water Conditions

Field experiments were conducted comparing yield and yield components of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under different soil water conditions. Soil water was controlled by excluding precipitation from a 150-m2 plot area with an automatic rain shelter. Treatment regimes were described according to their relative preanthesis/postanthesis soil water content as high/high (H/H), high/low (H/L), and low/high (L/H) in 1978–1979; an additional treatment, low/low (L/L) was added in 1979–1980. A neutron probe was used to periodically monitor soil water to the 150-cm depth in each regime. Plot yields ranged from 559 g/m2 in regime H/H (1978–1979) to 267 g/m2 in L/L (1979–1980) and were positively correlated with head number per square metre (r = 0.70) and kernel number per head (r = 0.79). Low preanthesis soil water reduced head number per square metre in both years. Regimes L/H and L/L in 1979–1980, which averaged the lowest preanthesis soil water of all regimes both years, had reduced kernels per spikelet compared to regimes with high preanthesis soil water. Increased kernel weight. associated with postanthesis irrigations, generally was not enough to compensate fully for fewer kernels per square metre associated with low preanthesis soil water. The results indicate that, if drought develops before grain filling in the spring, improved tiller survival and/or floret fertility could increase yields, even if some stress continued through grain filling. Under nonstress conditions, yield appears limited most by the amount of assimilate required to fill a high number of kernels per square metre.

Wheats developed for high yield on stored soil moisture have deep vigorous root systems

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah M. Rich ◽  
Anton P. Wasson ◽  
Richard A. Richards ◽  
Trushna Katore ◽  
Renu Prashar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
System Development ◽  
Root Traits ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Mature Root

Many rainfed wheat production systems are reliant on stored soil water for some or all of their water inputs. Selection and breeding for root traits could result in a yield benefit; however, breeding for root traits has traditionally been avoided due to the difficulty of phenotyping mature root systems, limited understanding of root system development and function, and the strong influence of environmental conditions on the phenotype of the mature root system. This paper outlines an international field selection program for beneficial root traits at maturity using soil coring in India and Australia. In the rainfed areas of India, wheat is sown at the end of the monsoon into hot soils with a quickly receding soil water profile; in season water inputs are minimal. We hypothesised that wheat selected and bred for high yield under these conditions would have deep, vigorous root systems, allowing them to access and utilise the stored soil water at depth around anthesis and grain-filling when surface layers were dry. The Indian trials resulted in 49 lines being sent to Australia for phenotyping. These lines were ranked against 41 high yielding Australian lines. Variation was observed for deep root traits e.g. in eastern Australia in 2012, maximum depth ranged from 118.8 to 146.3 cm. There was significant variation for root traits between sites and years, however, several Indian genotypes were identified that consistently ranked highly across sites and years for deep rooting traits.

Temporal and spatial patterns of soil water extraction and drought resistance among genotypes of a perennial C4 grass

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zhou ◽  
Christopher J. Lambrides ◽  
Matthew B. Roche ◽  
Alan Duff ◽  
Shu Fukai
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Drought Resistance ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Water Extraction ◽  
Root Characteristics ◽  
Green Cover ◽  
C4 Grass ◽  
Soil Water Extraction

The objective of this study was to investigate patterns of soil water extraction and drought resistance among genotypes of bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) a perennial C4 grass. Four wild Australian ecotypes (1–1, 25a1, 40–1, and 81–1) and four cultivars (CT2, Grand Prix, Legend, and Wintergreen) were examined in field experiments with rainfall excluded to monitor soil water extraction at 30–190 cm depths. In the study we defined drought resistance as the ability to maintain green canopy cover under drought. The most drought resistant genotypes (40–1 and 25a1) maintained more green cover (55–85% vs 5–10%) during water deficit and extracted more soil water (120–160 mm vs 77–107 mm) than drought sensitive genotypes, especially at depths from 50 to 110 cm, though all genotypes extracted water to 190 cm. The maintenance of green cover and higher soil water extraction were associated with higher stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate and relative water content. For all genotypes, the pattern of water use as a percentage of total water use was similar across depth and time We propose the observed genetic variation was related to different root characteristics (root length density, hydraulic conductivity, root activity) although shoot sensitivity to drying soil cannot be ruled out.

Water use of some recent bread and durum wheat cultivars in western Canada

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Wang ◽  
T. N. McCaig ◽  
R. M. DePauw ◽  
J. M. Clarke ◽  
R. Lemke
Keyword(s):  
Triticum Aestivum ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Triticum Turgidum ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Wheat Cultivars ◽  
Use Efficiency

Recently developed cultivars of Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) (Triticum turgidum L. var durum) produced significantly more grain than older cultivars. This production was attributed to higher harvest indices and better water use efficiency. Durum cultivars and CWRS AC Intrepid and AC Barrie extracted relatively more soil water below 55 cm, which may be advantageous in minimizing leaching and related to drought tolerance during grain-filling. Key words: Hexaploid wheat, durum, water use, soil water

Root length density and soil water distribution in drip-irrigated olive orchards in Argentina under arid conditions

2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter S. Searles ◽  
Diego A. Saravia ◽  
M. Cecilia Rousseaux
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Root System ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Drip Line ◽  
North West ◽  
Intensively Managed

Several studies have evaluated many above-ground aspects of olive production, but essential root system characteristics have been little examined. The objective of our study was to evaluate root length density (RLD) and root distribution relative to soil water content in three commercial orchards (north-west Argentina). Depending on the orchard, the different drip emitter arrangements included either: (1) emitters spaced continuously at 1-m intervals along the drip line (CE-4; 4 emitters per tree); (2) 4 emitters per tree spaced at 1-m intervals, but with a space of 2 m between emitters of neighbouring trees (E-4); or (3) 2 emitters per tree with 4 m between emitters of neighbouring trees (E-2). All of the orchards included either var. Manzanilla fina or Manzanilla reina trees (5–8 years old) growing in sandy soils, although the specific characteristics of each orchard differed. Root length density values (2.5–3.5 cm/cm3) in the upper soil depth (0–0.5 m) were fairly uniform along the drip line in the continuous emitter (CE-4) orchard. In contrast, roots were more concentrated in the E-4 and E-2 orchards, in some cases with maximum RLD values of up to 7 cm/cm3. Approximately 70% of the root system was located in the upper 0.5 m of soil depth, and most of the roots were within 0.5 m of the drip line. For each of the three orchards, significant linear relationships between soil water content and RLD were detected based on 42 sampling positions that included various distances from the trunk and soil depths. Values of RLD averaged over the entire rooting zone and total tree root length per leaf area for the three orchards were estimated to range from 0.19 to 0.48 cm/cm3 and from 1.8 to 3.5 km/m2, respectively. These results should reduce the uncertainty associated with the magnitude of RLD values under drip irrigation as intensively managed olive orchards continue to expand in established and new growing regions.

Water Relations of Winter Wheat: the Root System, Petiolar Resistance and Development of a Root Abstraction Equation

1985 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. McGowan ◽  
E. Tzimas
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Root System ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Water Relations ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Winter Wheat Crop

SUMMARYThe vertical distribution of water potentials within the leaf canopy, along the stem and within the soil profile of a winter wheat crop was analysed and it is concluded the failure by previous workers to recognize the significance of petiolar resistance has probably resulted in over-estimates of the resistance of the soil to water uptake by root systems of field crops.From an analysis of the water relations of several winter wheat crops an equation is developed to describe the extraction of soil water reserves by crop root systems, based upon values of soil water potential, root xylem potential and ‘effective’ resistance to water uptake which can be obtained from field experiments. The equation provides an empirical basis to specify the minimum desirable root system for efficient capture of soil water reserves, to analyse the effects of differing root distributions and thus to help identify situations where it would be profitable to modify rooting either by tillage or by plant breeding.

Hybrid variation for root system efficiency in maize: potential links to drought adaptation

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik J. van Oosterom ◽  
Zongjian Yang ◽  
Fenglu Zhang ◽  
Kurt S. Deifel ◽  
Mark Cooper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Water Extraction ◽  
Root Mass ◽  
System Efficiency ◽  
Drought Adaptation ◽  
Mass Allocation

Water availability can limit maize (Zea mays L.) yields, and root traits may enhance drought adaptation if they can moderate temporal patterns of soil water extraction to favour grain filling. Root system efficiency (RSE), defined as transpiration per unit leaf area per unit of root mass, represents the functional mass allocation to roots to support water capture relative to the allocation to aerial mass that determines water demand. The aims of this study were to identify the presence of hybrid variation for RSE in maize, determine plant attributes that drive these differences and illustrate possible links of RSE to drought adaptation via associations with water extraction patterns. Individual plants for a range of maize hybrids were grown in large containers in shadehouses in Queensland, Australia. Leaf area, shoot and root mass, transpiration, root distribution and soil water were measured in all or selected experiments. Significant hybrid differences in RSE existed. High RSE was associated with reduced dry mass allocation to roots and more efficient water capture per unit of root mass. It was also weakly negatively associated with total plant dry mass, reducing preanthesis water use. This could increase grain yield under drought. RSE provides a conceptual physiological framework to identify traits for high-throughput phenotyping in breeding programs.

scholarly journals Pulse Root Ideotype for Water Stress in Temperate Cropping System

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 692
Author(s):  
Shiwangni Rao ◽  
Roger Armstrong ◽  
Viridiana Silva-Perez ◽  
Abeya T. Tefera ◽  
Garry M. Rosewarne
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Root System ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
System Architecture ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Root Traits ◽  
Root System Architecture ◽  
Pulse Crops ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Plant Available Water

Pulses are a key component of crop production systems in Southern Australia due to their rotational benefits and potential profit margins. However, cultivation in temperate cropping systems such as that of Southern Australia is limited by low soil water availability and subsoil constraints. This limitation of soil water is compounded by the irregular rainfall, resulting in the absence of plant available water at depth. An increase in the productivity of key pulses and expansion into environments and soil types traditionally considered marginal for their growth will require improved use of the limited soil water and adaptation to sub soil constrains. Roots serve as the interface between soil constraints and the whole plant. Changes in root system architecture (RSA) can be utilised as an adaptive strategy in achieving yield potential under limited rainfall, heterogenous distribution of resources and other soil-based constraints. The existing literature has identified a “‘Steep, Deep and Cheap” root ideotype as a preferred RSA. However, this idiotype is not efficient in a temperate system where plant available water is limited at depth. In addition, this root ideotype and other root architectural studies have focused on cereal crops, which have different structures and growth patterns to pulses due to their monocotyledonous nature and determinant growth habit. The paucity of pulse-specific root architectural studies warrants further investigations into pulse RSA, which should be combined with an examination of the existing variability of known genetic traits so as to develop strategies to alleviate production constraints through either tolerance or avoidance mechanisms. This review proposes a new model of root system architecture of “Wide, Shallow and Fine” roots based on pulse roots in temperate cropping systems. The proposed ideotype has, in addition to other root traits, a root density concentrated in the upper soil layers to capture in-season rainfall before it is lost due to evaporation. The review highlights the potential to achieve this in key pulse crops including chickpea, lentil, faba bean, field pea and lupin. Where possible, comparisons to determinate crops such as cereals have also been made. The review identifies the key root traits that have shown a degree of adaptation via tolerance or avoidance to water stress and documents the current known variability that exists in and amongst pulse crops setting priorities for future research.

scholarly journals Morphological and Physiological Root Traits and Their Relationship with Nitrogen Uptake in Wheat Varieties Released from 1915 to 2013

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1149
Author(s):  
Guglielmo Puccio ◽  
Rosolino Ingraffia ◽  
Dario Giambalvo ◽  
Gaetano Amato ◽  
Alfonso S. Frenda
Keyword(s):  
Durum Wheat ◽  
Root System ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Specific Root Length ◽  
Root Traits ◽  
Wheat Breeding ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Wheat Varieties ◽  
Uptake Efficiency ◽  
Positive Effects

Identifying genotypes with a greater ability to absorb nitrogen (N) may be important to reducing N loss in the environment and improving the sustainability of agricultural systems. This study extends the knowledge of variability among wheat genotypes in terms of morphological or physiological root traits, N uptake under conditions of low soil N availability, and in the amount and rapidity of the use of N supplied with fertilizer. Nine genotypes of durum wheat were chosen for their different morpho-phenological characteristics and year of their release. The isotopic tracer 15N was used to measure the fertilizer N uptake efficiency. The results show that durum wheat breeding did not have univocal effects on the characteristics of the root system (weight, length, specific root length, etc.) or N uptake capacity. The differences in N uptake among the studied genotypes when grown in conditions of low N availability appear to be related more to differences in uptake efficiency per unit of weight and length of the root system than to differences in the morphological root traits. The differences among the genotypes in the speed and the ability to take advantage of the greater N availability, determined by N fertilization, appear to a certain extent to be related to the development of the root system and the photosynthesizing area. This study highlights some variability within the species in terms of the development, distribution, and efficiency of the root system, which suggests that there may be sufficient grounds for improving these traits with positive effects in terms of adaptability to difficult environments and resilience to climate change.

scholarly journals Effects of Ridge Tillage and Straw Mulching on Cultivation the Fresh Faba Beans

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1054
Author(s):  
Bo Li ◽  
Xinyu Chen ◽  
Xiaoxu Shi ◽  
Jian Liu ◽  
Yafeng Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rice Straw ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Root Surface ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Root Surface Area ◽  
Straw Mulching ◽  
Faba Beans ◽  
Ridge Tillage

Ridge tillage is an effective agronomic practice and a miniature precision agriculture; however, its effects on the growth of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) are poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the effect of ridge tillage and straw mulching on the root growth, nutrient accumulation and yield of faba beans. Field experiments were conducted during 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons and comprised four treatments: ridge tillage without any mulching (RT), flat tillage without any mulch (FT), flat tillage with rice straw mulched on the ridge tillage (FTRSM) and ridge tillage with rice straw mulched on the ridge tillage (RTRSM). The RT and RTRSM increased soil temperature and decreased soil humidity and improved soil total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available potassium and organic matter. RT and RTRSM increased the root length density, root surface area, root diameter and root activity of faba beans at flowering and harvest periods. The RT and RTRSM also increased the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium absorption and the yield of faba beans. These results indicated that ridge tillage and straw mulching affect faba bean growth by improving soil moisture conditions and providing good air permeability and effective soil nutrition supply. This study provides a theoretical basis for the high yield cultivation improvement of faba beans.

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