scholarly journals New roots for agriculture: exploiting the root phenome

2012 ◽  
Vol 367 (1595) ◽  
pp. 1598-1604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan P. Lynch ◽  
Kathleen M. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Root Architecture ◽  
Fitness Landscape ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
Developing Nations ◽  
Soil Resource ◽  
Resource Capture ◽  
Soil Exploration ◽  
New Research ◽  
Training Modalities ◽  
And Training

Recent advances in root biology are making it possible to genetically design root systems with enhanced soil exploration and resource capture. These cultivars would have substantial value for improving food security in developing nations, where yields are limited by drought and low soil fertility, and would enhance the sustainability of intensive agriculture. Many of the phenes controlling soil resource capture are related to root architecture. We propose that a better understanding of the root phenome is needed to effectively translate genetic advances into improved crop cultivars. Elementary, unique root phenes need to be identified. We need to understand the ‘fitness landscape’ for these phenes: how they affect crop performance in an array of environments and phenotypes. Finally, we need to develop methods to measure phene expression rapidly and economically without artefacts. These challenges, especially mapping the fitness landscape, are non-trivial, and may warrant new research and training modalities.

Root architecture for improved resource capture: trade-offs in complex environments

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (19) ◽  
pp. 5752-5763
Author(s):  
Frederik J T van der Bom ◽  
Alwyn Williams ◽  
Michael J Bell
Keyword(s):  
Root Architecture ◽  
Root Traits ◽  
Spatial Separation ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
Soil Resources ◽  
Resource Capture ◽  
Global Food Security ◽  
Single Constraint ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Soil Constraints

Abstract Root architecture is a promising breeding target for developing resource-efficient crops. Breeders and plant physiologists have called for root ideotypes that have narrow, deep root systems for improved water and nitrate capture, or wide, shallower root systems for better uptake of less mobile topsoil nutrients such as phosphorus. Yet evidence of relationships between root architecture and crop yield is limited. Many studies focus on the response to a single constraint, despite the fact that crops are frequently exposed to multiple soil constraints. For example, in dryland soils under no-till management, topsoil nutrient stratification is an emergent profile characteristic, leading to spatial separation of water and nutrients as the soil profile dries. This results in spatio-temporal trade-offs between efficient resource capture and pre-defined root ideotypes developed to counter a single constraint. We believe there is need to identify and better understand trade-offs involved in the efficient capture of multiple, spatially disjunct soil resources. Additionally, how these trade-offs interact with genotype (root architecture), environment (soil constraints), and management (agronomy) are critical unknowns. We argue that identifying root traits that enable efficient capture of multiple soil resources under fluctuating environmental constraints is a key step towards meeting the challenges of global food security.

scholarly journals Moving from tradition-based to competence-based psychotherapy

2021 ◽  
pp. ebmental-2020-300219
Author(s):  
Winfried Rief
Keyword(s):  
Basic Science ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Skills Acquisition ◽  
Relationship Patterns ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
New Research ◽  
And Training ◽  
Selection Of

Current education and training in psychological interventions is mostly based on different ‘schools’ (traditions such as cognitive–behavioural or psychodynamic therapy), and strong identification with these specific traditions continuously hinders a scientifically based development of psychotherapy. This review is selective rather than systematic and comprehensive. In addition to the consideration of other influential publications, we relied on a literature search in Web of Science using the following terms (update: 24 December 2020): (psychotherapy AND meta-analy* AND competence*). After summarising current problems, a pathway for solving these problems is presented. First, we have to recategorise psychological interventions according to the mechanisms and subgoals that are addressed. The interventions can be classified according to the foci: (1) skills acquisition (eg, communication, emotion regulation, mentalisation); (2) working with relationship patterns and using the therapeutic relationship to modify them; and (3) clarification of motives and goals. Afterwards, the training of psychotherapists can switch from focusing on one theoretical framework to learning the different competences for modification according to these new categories. The selection of topics to be addressed should follow best evidence-based mechanisms and processes of mental disorders and interventions. Psychology offers knowledge about these mechanisms that can be understood as a basic science for psychological treatments in general. This requires better connection with basic science, new research efforts that focus on treatment subgoals, theory-overarching optimisation of the selection and personalisation of treatments, and new types of training for psychotherapists that are designed to optimise therapists’ competences accordingly, instead of limiting training programmes to one single theoretical framework.

scholarly journals Functional implications of root cortical senescence for soil resource capture

2017 ◽  
Vol 423 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 13-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah M. Schneider ◽  
Jonathan P. Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Soil Resource ◽  
Resource Capture ◽  
Functional Implications

scholarly journals Contemporary Concepts of Root System Architecture of Urban Trees

2010 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 149-159
Author(s):  
Susan Day ◽  
P. Eric Wiseman ◽  
Sarah Dickinson ◽  
J. Roger Harris
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Root Growth ◽  
Root System ◽  
Root Architecture ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Urban Settings

Knowledge of the extent and distribution of tree root systems is essential for managing trees in the built environment. Despite recent advances in root detection tools, published research on tree root architecture in urban settings has been limited and only partially synthesized. Root growth patterns of urban trees may differ considerably from similar species in forested or agricultural environments. This paper reviews literature documenting tree root growth in urban settings as well as literature addressing root architecture in nonurban settings that may contribute to present understanding of tree roots in built environments. Although tree species may have the genetic potential for generating deep root systems (>2 m), rooting depth in urban situations is frequently restricted by impenetrable or inhospitable soil layers or by underground infrastructure. Lateral root extent is likewise subject to restriction by dense soils under hardscape or by absence of irrigation in dry areas. By combining results of numerous studies, the authors of this paper estimated the radius of an unrestricted root system initially increases at a rate of approximately 38 to 1, compared to trunk diameter; however, this ratio likely considerably declines as trees mature. Roots are often irregularly distributed around the tree and may be influenced by cardinal direction, terrain, tree lean, or obstacles in the built environment. Buttress roots, tap roots, and other root types are also discussed.

scholarly journals The Indigenisation of Pathology

1975 ◽  
Vol 12 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 45-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. L. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Developing Nations ◽  
Years Of Experience ◽  
Clinical Laboratories ◽  
Laboratory Facilities ◽  
And Training

It is widely assumed that systems, equipment, and training evolved in the clinical laboratories of “advanced” countries from years of experience are universally applicable to the needs of all developing nations. This fallacy has led to a situation where the advance of medicine in many such countries is now retarded by a lack of laboratory facilities. There is an urgent need to investigate all aspects of this problem and develop answers specifically orientated to the needs of each situation.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Attitudes and Students Intention to Enter the Vocation Education and Training in the United Arab Emirates

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Saif Alnaqbi
Keyword(s):  
Vocational Education ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Reasoned Action ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Spss Software ◽  
New Research ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
And Training

<p class="a"><span lang="EN-US">The goal of this study is to examine the internal and external effect of students’ attitude towards the intention to enter the vocational education in the UAE through examining the different factors of attitude such as social, individual, demographic and organization. Because of the inconsistent results, for further investigation, a new research has established through introducing new and different variables that may better explain the nature of that relationships and issues. In the literature, many theories have suggested that link between variables such as Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), The Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). Questionnaires were distributed to 700 students. 549 questionnaires were returned and using in the analysis using SPSS software version 18.0 through descriptive an inferential statistics. In addition, Independent T-test and Scheffe' test were used to test and hypothesized the hypotheses. So, the results of this study showed that there are significant differences in the parents’ responses between Social factors of vocational education according to their gender and the region either urban or rural. In another hands, the result of the students was found to have significant differences of the attitudes and importance in rural and urban regions. In addition to that, all parents either in government or private sectors agreed the importance and vocational education future for their children. Moreover, the culture in both sectors is differently seen by society in terms of the vocational education. This study also supported the premises of the TRA, TPB, and SCT theories by reaffirming the importance of the study’s variables for supporting the intention of the students towards the vocational education.</span></p>

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