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Title: Root system architecture in cereals: progress, challenges and perspective

Journal Article · · The Plant Journal
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.15669· OSTI ID:1876296
 [1];  [2];  [2]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [4];  [5]
  1. Quaid‐i‐Azam University Islamabad (Pakistan)
  2. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing (China)
  3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  4. Quaid‐i‐Azam University Islamabad (Pakistan); Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing (China); International Wheat and Maize Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Beijing (China)
  5. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing (China); International Wheat and Maize Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Beijing (China)
+ Show Author Affiliations

SUMMARY Roots are essential multifunctional plant organs involved in water and nutrient uptake, metabolite storage, anchorage, mechanical support, and interaction with the soil environment. Understanding of this ‘hidden half’ provides potential for manipulation of root system architecture (RSA) traits to optimize resource use efficiency and grain yield in cereal crops. Unfortunately, root traits are highly neglected in breeding due to the challenges of phenotyping, but could have large rewards if the variability in RSA traits can be fully exploited. Until now, a plethora of genes have been characterized in detail for their potential role in improving RSA. The use of forward genetics approaches to find sequence variations in genes underpinning desirable RSA would be highly beneficial. Advances in computer vision applications have allowed image‐based approaches for high‐throughput phenotyping of RSA traits that can be used by any laboratory worldwide to make progress in understanding root function and dissection of the genetics. At the same time, the frontiers of root measurement include non‐invasive methods like X‐ray computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging that facilitate new types of temporal studies. Root physiology and ecology are further supported by spatiotemporal root simulation modeling. The discovery of component traits providing improved resilience and yield advantage in target environments is a key necessity for mainstreaming root‐based cereal breeding. The integrated use of pan‐genome resources, now available in most cereals, coupled with new in‐field phenotyping platforms has the potential for precise selection of superior genotypes with improved RSA.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); Pakistan Science Foundation; Indigenous Fellowship Program of Higher Education Commission (HEC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725; 31961143007; PSF-NSFC III/Agr/C-QAU (16); 31950410563
OSTI ID:
1876296
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1846327
Journal Information:
The Plant Journal, Vol. 110, Issue 1; ISSN 0960-7412
Publisher:
Society for Experimental BiologyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
phenotyping
root genomics
root phenomics
root system architecture