The genetic basis of the root economics spectrum in a perennial grass

Chen, Weile; Wu, Yanqi; Fritschi, Felix B.; Juenger, Thomas E.

doi:10.1073/pnas.2107541118

Title: The genetic basis of the root economics spectrum in a perennial grass

Journal Article · 18 November 2021 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2107541118 · OSTI ID:1831546

Chen, Weile ^[1];

^[2];

^[3];

^[4]

College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China,, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712,
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078,
Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201
Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712,

Significance Plants have evolved diverse root form and function across the Earth’s environment, yet only certain types of trait combinations have proved evolutionarily viable. Using a genetic mapping population of the native perennial switchgrass, our study demonstrates multiple genetic linkages among root morphology, growth, and turnover. Switching alleles derived from southern-origin ecotypes to alleles from northern-origin ecotypes increases root turnover but reduces tissue investment in root length construction. The genetic trade-off between construction and turnover likely facilitates the local adaptation of root strategy along the warm to cold climatic gradients of the species range. In practice, our study provides the genetic evidence that increasing switchgrass yield for bioenergy does not directly conflict with enhancing its root-derived carbon sequestration.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AR0000820; SC0014156

OSTI ID:: 1831546

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1831719

Journal Information:: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal Issue: 47 Vol. 118; ISSN 0027-8424

Publisher:: Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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