Root system architecture has often been overlooked in plant research despite its critical role in plant adaptation to environmental conditions.This study focused on the root system architecture of the desert shrub Rea...Root system architecture has often been overlooked in plant research despite its critical role in plant adaptation to environmental conditions.This study focused on the root system architecture of the desert shrub Reaumuria soongorica in the Alxa steppe desert,Northwest China.Plant samples were collected during May-September 2019.Using excavation methods,in situ measurements,and root scanning techniques,we analyzed the root distribution,topology,and branching patterns of R.soongorica across an age sequence of 7-51 a.Additionally,we investigated the allometric relationships of root collar diameter with total coarse root length,biomass,and topological parameters.The results showed that the roots of R.soongorica were predominantly concentrated in shallow soil layers(10-50 cm),with lateral root branching and biomass allocation increasing with shrub age.The root topology exhibited a herringbone-like structure,with average topological and modified topological indices of 0.89 and 0.96,respectively,both of which adjusted with shrub age.The root system displayed a self-similar branching pattern,maintaining a constant cross-sectional area ratio of 1.13 before and after branching,deviating from the area-preserving rule.These adaptive traits allow R.soongorica to efficiently expand its nutrient acquisition zone,minimize internal competition,and optimize resource uptake from the upper soil layers.Furthermore,significant linear relationships were observed between log10-transformed root collar diameter and log10-transformed total coarse root length,biomass,and topological parameters.These findings advance non-destructive approaches for studying root characteristics and contribute to the development of root-related models.Besides,this study provides new insights into the adaptive strategies of R.soongorica under extreme drought conditions,offering valuable guidance for species selection and cultivation in desert restoration efforts.展开更多
Drought is a natural disaster that profoundly impacts on global agricultural production,significantly reduces crop yields,and thereby poses a severe threat to worldwide food security.Addressing the challenge of effect...Drought is a natural disaster that profoundly impacts on global agricultural production,significantly reduces crop yields,and thereby poses a severe threat to worldwide food security.Addressing the challenge of effectively improving crop drought resistance(DR)to mitigate yield loss under drought conditions is a global issue.An optimal root system architecture(RSA)plays a pivotal role in enhancing the capacity of crops to efficiently uptake water and nutrients,which consequently strengthens their resilience against environmental stresses.In this review,we discuss the compositions and roles of crop RSA and summarize the most recent developments in augmenting drought tolerance in crops by manipulating RSA-related genes.Based on the current research,we propose the potential optimal RSA configuration that could be helpful in enhancing crop DR.Lastly,we discuss the existing challenges and future directions for breeding crops with enhanced DR capabilities through genetic improvements targeting RSA.展开更多
Either arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi （AMF） or polyamines （PAs） may change root system architecture （RSA） of plants, whereas the interaction of AMF and PAs on RSA remains unclear. In the present study, we studied ...Either arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi （AMF） or polyamines （PAs） may change root system architecture （RSA） of plants, whereas the interaction of AMF and PAs on RSA remains unclear. In the present study, we studied the interaction between AMF （Paraglomus occultum） and exogenous PAs, including putrescine （Put）, spermidine （Spd） and spermine （Spin） on mycorrhizal development of different parts of root system, plant growth, RSA and carbohydrate concentrations of 6-m-old citrus （Citrus tangerine Hort. ex Tanaka） seedlings. After 14 wk of PAs application, PA-treated mycorrhizal seedlings exhibited better mycorrhizal colonization and numbers of vesicles, arbuscules, and entry points, and the best mycorrhizal status of taproot, first-, second-, and third-order lateral roots was respectively found in mycorrhizal seedlings supplied with Put, Spd and Spm, suggesting that PAs might act as a regulated factor of mycorrhizal development through transformation of root sucrose more into glucose for sustaining mycorrhizal development. AMF usually notably increases RSA traits （taproot length, total length, average diameter, projected area, surface area, volume, and number of first-, second-, and third-order lateral roots） of only PA-treated seedlings. Among the three PA species, greater positive effects on RSA change and plant biomass increment of the seedlings generally rank as Spd〉Spm〉Put, irrespective of whether or not AMF colonization. PAs significantly changed the RSA traits in mycorrhizal but not in non-mycorrhizal seedlings. It suggests that the application of PAs （especially Spd） to AMF plants would optimize RSA of citrus seedlings, thus increasing plant growth （shoot and root dry weight）.展开更多
The root system architecture(RSA) of a crop has a profound effect on the uptake of nutrients and consequently the potential yield. However, little is known about the genetic basis of RSA and resource adaptive response...The root system architecture(RSA) of a crop has a profound effect on the uptake of nutrients and consequently the potential yield. However, little is known about the genetic basis of RSA and resource adaptive responses in wheat(Triticum aestivum L.). Here, a high-throughput germination paper-based plant phenotyping system was used to identify seedling traits in a wheat doubled haploid mapping population, Savannah×Rialto. Significant genotypic and nitrate-N treatment variation was found across the population for seedling traits with distinct trait grouping for root size-related traits and root distribution-related traits. Quantitative trait locus(QTL) analysis identified a total of 59 seedling trait QTLs. Across two nitrate treatments, 27 root QTLs were specific to the nitrate treatment. Transcriptomic analyses for one of the QTLs on chromosome 2 D, which was found under low nitrate conditions, revealed gene enrichment in N-related biological processes and 28 differentially expressed genes with possible involvement in a root angle response. Together, these findings provide genetic insight into root system architecture and plant adaptive responses to nitrate, as well as targets that could help improve N capture in wheat.展开更多
Plant roots are crucial for nitrogen uptake.To efficiently acquire N,root system architecture(RSA),which includes the length and quantity of primary roots,lateral roots and root hairs,is dynamically regulated by the s...Plant roots are crucial for nitrogen uptake.To efficiently acquire N,root system architecture(RSA),which includes the length and quantity of primary roots,lateral roots and root hairs,is dynamically regulated by the surrounding N status.For crops,an ideotype RSA characterized by enhanced plasticity to meet various N demands under fluctuating N conditions is fundamental for high N utilization and subsequent yield.Therefore,exploring the genetic basis of N-dependent RSA,especially in crops,is of great significance.This review summarizes how plants sense both local and systemic N signals and transduce them to downstream pathways.Additionally,it presents the current understanding of genetic basis of N-dependent root plasticity in Arabidopsis and major crops.Also,to fully understand the mechanisms underlying N-dependent root morphogenesis and effectively identify loci associated with an ideotype RSA in crops,more attention should be paid to non-destructive,in situ phenotyping of root traits,cell-type-specific exploration of gene functions,and crosstalk between root architecture,environment and management in the future.展开更多
Optimizing root system architecture(RSA)is essential for plants because of its critical role in acquiring water and nutrients from the soil.However,the subterranean nature of roots complicates the measurement of RSA t...Optimizing root system architecture(RSA)is essential for plants because of its critical role in acquiring water and nutrients from the soil.However,the subterranean nature of roots complicates the measurement of RSA traits.Recently developed rhizobox methods allow for the rapid acquisition of root images.Nevertheless,effective and precise approaches for extracting RSA features from these images remain underdeveloped.Deep learning(DL)technology can enhance image segmentation and facilitate RSA trait extraction.However,comprehensive pipelines that integrate DL technologies into image-based root phenotyping techniques are still scarce,hampering their implementation.To address this challenge,we present a reproducible pipeline(faCRSA)for automated RSA traits analysis,consisting of three modules:(1)the RSA traits extraction module functions to segment soil-root images and calculate RSA traits.A lightweight convolutional neural network(CNN)named RootSeg was proposed for efficient and accurate segmentation;(2)the data storage module,which stores image and text data from other modules;and(3)the web application module,which allows researchers to analyze data online in a user-friendly manner.The correlation coefficients(R^(2))of total root length,root surface area,and root volume calculated from faCRSA and manually measured results were 0.96**,0.97**,and 0.93**,respectively,with root mean square errors(RMSE)of 8.13 cm,1.68 cm^(2),and 0.05 cm^(3),processed at a rate of 9.74 s per image,indicating satisfying accuracy.faCRSA has also demonstrated satisfactory performance in dynamically monitoring root system changes under various stress conditions,such as drought or waterlogging.The detailed code and deployable package of faCRSA are provided for researchers with the potential to replace manual and semi-automated methods.展开更多
Overview of root system architecture.The plant root system is a highly dynamic and multifunctional organ system composed of primary roots,lateral roots,adventitious roots,and root hairs.Based on topological morphology...Overview of root system architecture.The plant root system is a highly dynamic and multifunctional organ system composed of primary roots,lateral roots,adventitious roots,and root hairs.Based on topological morphology,root systems can be classified as taproot systems or fibrous root systems.Root system architecture(RSA)refers to the spatial distribution and extension patterns of roots within soil,encompassing characteristics such as root length,branching angle,density,and spatial arrangement.RSA not only determines the plant’s capacity to acquire water and nutrients but also influences other root functions,playing a decisive role in overall plant health.展开更多
The Green Revolution of the 1960s boosted crop yields in part through widespread production of semidwarf plant cultivars and extensive use of mineral fertilizers.The beneficial semidwarfism of cereal Green Revolution ...The Green Revolution of the 1960s boosted crop yields in part through widespread production of semidwarf plant cultivars and extensive use of mineral fertilizers.The beneficial semidwarfism of cereal Green Revolution cultivars is due to the accumulation of plant growth-repressing DELLA proteins,which increases lodging resistance but requires a high-nitrogen fertilizer to obtain high yield.Given that environmentally degrading fertilizer use underpins current worldwide crop production,future agricultural sustainability needs a sustainable Green Revolution through reducing N fertilizer use while boosting grain yield above what is currently achievable.Despite a great deal of research efforts,only a few genes have been demonstrated to improve N-use efficiency in crops.The molecular mechanisms underlying the coordination between plant growth and N metabolism is still not fully understood,thus preventing significant improvement.Recent advances of how plants sense,capture and respond to varying N supply in model plants have shed light on how to improve sustainable productivity in agriculture.This review focuses on the current understanding of root developmental and metabolic adaptations to N availability,and discuss the potential approaches to improve N-use efficiency in high-yielding cereal crops.展开更多
Maize（Zea mays） root system architecture（RSA）mediates the key functions of plant anchorage and acquisition of nutrients and water. In this study,a set of 204 recombinant inbred lines（RILs） was derived from the w...Maize（Zea mays） root system architecture（RSA）mediates the key functions of plant anchorage and acquisition of nutrients and water. In this study,a set of 204 recombinant inbred lines（RILs） was derived from the widely adapted Chinese hybrid ZD958（Zheng58 Chang7-2）,genotyped by sequencing（GBS） and evaluated as seedlings for 24 RSA related traits divided into primary,seminal and total root classes. Signi ficant differences between the means of the parental phenotypes were detected for 18 traits,and extensive transgressive segregation in the RIL population was observed for all traits. Moderate to strong relationships among the traits were discovered. A total of 62 quantitative trait loci（QTL） were identi fied that individually explained from1.6% to 11.6%（total root dry weight/total seedling shoot dry weight） of the phenotypic variation. Eighteen,24 and 20 QTL were identi fied for primary,seminal and total root classes of traits,respectively. We found hotspots of 5,3,4 and 12 QTL in maize chromosome bins 2.06,3.02-03,9.02-04,and 9.05-06,respectively,implicating the presence of root gene clusters or pleiotropic effects. These results characterized the phenotypic variation and genetic architecture of seedling RSA in a population derived from a successful maize hybrid.展开更多
Plant root development is strongly affected by nutrient availability. Despite the importance of structure and function of roots in nutrient acquisition,statistical modeling approaches to evaluate dynamic and temporal ...Plant root development is strongly affected by nutrient availability. Despite the importance of structure and function of roots in nutrient acquisition,statistical modeling approaches to evaluate dynamic and temporal modulations of root system architecture in response to nutrient availability have remained as widely open and exploratory areas in root biology. In this study,we developed a statistical modeling approach to investigate modulations of root system architecture in response to nitrogen availability. Mathematical models were designed for quantitative assessment of root growth and root branching phenotypes and their dynamic relationships based on hierarchical con figuration of primary and lateral roots formulating the fishbone-shaped root system architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana. Time-series datasets reporting dynamic changes in root developmental traits on different nitrate or ammonium concentrations were generated for statistical analyses. Regression analyses unraveled key parameters associated with：（i） inhibition of primary root growth under nitrogen limitation or on ammonium;（ii） rapid progression of lateral root emergence in response to ammonium; and（iii） inhibition of lateral root elongation in the presence of excess nitrate or ammonium. This study provides a statistical framework for interpreting dynamic modulation of root system architecture,supported by metaanalysis of datasets displaying morphological responses of roots to diverse nitrogen supplies.展开更多
A plant＇s ability to maintain or improve its yield under limiting conditions,such as nutrient de ficiency or drought,can be strongly in fluenced by root system architecture（RSA）,the three-dimensional distribution o...A plant＇s ability to maintain or improve its yield under limiting conditions,such as nutrient de ficiency or drought,can be strongly in fluenced by root system architecture（RSA）,the three-dimensional distribution of the different root types in the soil. The ability to image,track and quantify these root system attributes in a dynamic fashion is a useful tool in assessing desirable genetic and physiological root traits. Recent advances in imaging technology and phenotyping software have resulted in substantive progress in describing and quantifying RSA. We have designed a hydroponic growth system which retains the three-dimensional RSA of the plant root system,while allowing for aeration,solution replenishment and the imposition of nutrient treatments,as well as high-quality imaging of the root system. The simplicity and flexibility of the system allows for modi fications tailored to the RSA of different crop species and improved throughput. This paper details the recent improvements and innovations in our root growth and imaging system which allows for greater image sensitivity（detection of fine roots and other root details）,higher ef ficiency,and a broad array of growing conditions for plants that more closely mimic those found under field conditions.展开更多
Root system architecture(RSA)plays a pivotal role in efficient uptake of essential nutrients,such as phosphorous(P),nitrogen(N),and water In soils with heterogeneous nutrient distribution,root plasticity can optimize ...Root system architecture(RSA)plays a pivotal role in efficient uptake of essential nutrients,such as phosphorous(P),nitrogen(N),and water In soils with heterogeneous nutrient distribution,root plasticity can optimize acquisition and plant growth.Here,we present evidence that a constitutive RSA can confer benefits for sorghum grown under both sufficient and limiting growth conditions.Our studies,using P efficient SC103 and inefficient BTx635 sorghum cultivars,identified significant differences in root traits,with SC103 developing a larger root system with more and longer lateral roots,and enhanced shoot biomass,under both nutrient sufficient and deficient conditions.In addition to this constitutive attribute,under P deficiency,both cultivars exhibited an initial increase in lateral root development;however,SC103 still maintained the larger root biomass.Although N deficiency and drought stress inhibited both root and shoot growth,for both sorghum cultivars,SC103 again maintained the better performance.These findings reveal that SC103,a P efficient sorghum cultivar,also exhibited enhanced growth performance under N deficiency and drought.Our results provide evidence that this constitutive nature of RSA can provide an avenue for breeding nutrient-and drought-resilient crops.展开更多
The formation of root system architecture(RSA)plays a crucial role in plant growth.OsDRO1 is known to have a function in controlling RSA in rice,however,the role of potato StDRO2,a homolog of rice OsDRO1,in root growt...The formation of root system architecture(RSA)plays a crucial role in plant growth.OsDRO1 is known to have a function in controlling RSA in rice,however,the role of potato StDRO2,a homolog of rice OsDRO1,in root growth remains unclear.In this study,we obtained potato dro2 mutant lines by Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR-Associated 9(CRISPR/Cas9)-mediated genome editing system.The mutant lines were generated from a splicing defect of the StDRO2 intron 1,which causes a nonsense mutation in StDRO2.Furthermore,the secondary structure of StDRO2 mRNA analyzed with RNAfold Web Server was altered in the dro2 mutant.Mutation of StDRO2 conveys potato adaptation through changing the RSA via alteration of auxin transport under drought stress.The potato dro2 lines showed higher plant height,longer root length,smaller root growth angle and increased tuber weight than the wild-type.The alteration of RSA was associated with a disturbance of IAA distribution in the dro2 mutant,and the levels of StPIN7 and StPIN10 detected by using real-time PCR were up-regulated in the roots of potato dro2 lines grown under drought stress.Moreover,the microRNAs(miRNAs)PmiREN024536 and PmiREN024486 targeted the StDRO2 gene,and auxin positively and negatively regulated the expression of StDRO2 and the miRNAs PmiREN024536 and PmiREN024486,respectively,in the potato roots.Our data shows that a regulatory network involving auxin,StDRO2,PmiREN024536 and PmiREN024486 can control RSA to convey potato fitness under drought stress.展开更多
Field-based phenotyping(FBP)of crop root systemarchitecture(RSA)provides away to quantify the root growth and distribution in fieldwith a smaller scale.Studies on a better understanding of the interrelations between f...Field-based phenotyping(FBP)of crop root systemarchitecture(RSA)provides away to quantify the root growth and distribution in fieldwith a smaller scale.Studies on a better understanding of the interrelations between field crop root physiological traits,root developmental phases and environmental changes are hindered due to deficiency of in situ root system architecture testing and quantitative methods for field crop.The present study aimed to propose a protocol for field-based wheat root system architecture with technical details of key operational procedures.Phenotyping of RSA traits from root spatial coordinate data acquisition and visualization software presented scaled illustrations of wheat RSA dynamics and root developmental phases which also revealed the root topological heterogeneities,eitherwithin a plant oramong individuals.Percentage of horizontal and vertical soil coverage by root showed that root foraging capability along soil depth was better than within the horizontal dimension.In brief,our data indicated that FBP ofwheat RSA could be achieved using the protocol of datadriven model-assisted phenotyping procedure.The proposed protocol was demonstrated useful for FBP of RSAs.It was proved effective to illustrate the topological structures of the wheat root system and to quantify RSAderived parameters,this could be a useful tool for characterizing and analyzing the structural distortion,heterogeneous distribution and the soil space exploration characteristics of wheat root.展开更多
Sorghum’s natural adaptation to a wide range of abiotic stresses provides diverse genetic reserves for potential improvement in crop stress tolerance. Growing interest in sorghum research has led to the expansion of ...Sorghum’s natural adaptation to a wide range of abiotic stresses provides diverse genetic reserves for potential improvement in crop stress tolerance. Growing interest in sorghum research has led to the expansion of genetic resources though establishment of the sorghum association panel (SAP), generation of mutagenized populations, and recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> etc. Despite rapid improvement in biotechnological tools, lack of efficient phenotyping platforms remains one of the major obstacles in utilizing these genetic resources. Scarcity of efforts in root system phenotyping hinders identification and integration of the superior root traits advantageous to stress tolerance. Here, we explored multiple approaches in root phenotyping of an ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized sorghum population. Paper-based growth pouches (PGP) and hydroponics were employed to analyze root system architecture (RSA) variations induced by mutations and to test root development flexibility in response to phosphorus deficiency in early growing stages. PGP method had improved capabilities compared to hydroponics providing inexpensive, space-saving, and high-throughput phenotyping of sorghum roots. Preliminary observation revealed distinct phenotypic variations which were qualitatively and quantitatively systemized for association analysis. Phenotypes/ideotypes with root architecture variations potentially correlated with Pi acquisition were selected to evaluate their contribution to P-efficiency (PE). Sand mixed with P-loaded activated alumina substrate (SAS) provided closely to natural but still controlled single-variable conditions with regulated Pi availability. Due to higher labor and cost input we propose SAS to be used for evaluating selected sorghum candidates for PE. The ability of rapidly screening root phenotypes holds great potential for discovering genes responsible for relevant root traits and utilizing mutations to improve nutrient efficiency and crop productivity.展开更多
Drought is an important abiotic stress factor in cotton production.The root system architecture(RSA)of cotton shows high plasticity which can alleviate drought-related stress under drought stress(DS)conditions;however...Drought is an important abiotic stress factor in cotton production.The root system architecture(RSA)of cotton shows high plasticity which can alleviate drought-related stress under drought stress(DS)conditions;however,this alleviation is cultivar dependent.Therefore,this study estimated the genetic variability of RSA in cotton under DS.Using the paper-based growth system,we assessed the RSA variability in 80 cotton cultivars at the seedling stage,with 0 and10%polyethylene glycol 6000(PEG6000)as the control(CK)and DS treatment,respectively.An analysis of 23 aboveground and root traits in the 80 cotton cultivars revealed different responses to DS.On the 10th day after DS treatment,the degree of variation in the RSA traits under DS(5–55%)was greater than that of CK(5–49%).The 80 cultivars were divided into drought-tolerant cultivars(group 1),intermediate drought-tolerant cultivars(group 2),and drought-sensitive cultivars(group 3)based on their comprehensive evaluation values of drought resistance.Under DS,the root lengthlower,root area-lower,root volume-lower,and root length density-lower were significantly reduced by 63,71,76,and 4%in the drought-sensitive cultivars compared to CK.Notably,the drought-tolerant cultivars maintained their root lengthlower,root area-lower,root volume-lower,and root length density–lower attributes.Compared to CK,the root diameter(0–2 mm)-lower increased by 21%in group 1 but decreased by 3 and 64%in groups 2 and 3,respectively,under DS.Additionally,the drought-tolerant cultivars displayed a plastic response under DS that was characterized by an increase in the root-lower characteristics.Drought resistance was positively correlated with the root area-lower and root length density-lower.Overall,the RSA of the different cotton cultivars varied greatly under DS.Therefore,important root traits,such as the root-lower traits,provide great insights for exploring whether drought-tolerant cotton cultivars can effectively withstand adverse environments.展开更多
Nitrogen(N)is vital for crop growth and yield,impacting food quality.However,excessive use of N fertilizers leads to high agricultural costs and environmental challenges.This review offers a thorough synthesis of the ...Nitrogen(N)is vital for crop growth and yield,impacting food quality.However,excessive use of N fertilizers leads to high agricultural costs and environmental challenges.This review offers a thorough synthesis of the genetic and molecular regulation of N uptake,assimilation,and remobilization in maize,emphasizing the role of key genes and metabolic pathways in enhancing N use efficiency(NUE).We summarize the genetic regulators of N transports for nitrate(NO3−)and ammonium(NH4+)that contribute to efficient N uptake and transportation.We further discuss the molecular mechanisms by which root system development adapts to N distribution and how N influences root system development and growth.Given the advancements in high-throughput microbiome studies,we delve into the impact of rhizosphere microorganisms on NUE and the complex plant-microbe interactions that regulate maize NUE.Additionally,we conclude with intricate regulatory mechanisms of N assimilation and remobilization in maize,involving key enzymes,transcription factors,and amino acid transporters.We also scrutinize the known N signaling perception and transduction mechanisms in maize.This review underscores the challenges in improving maize NUE and advocates for an integrative research approach that leverages genetic diversity and synthetic biology,paving the way for sustainable agriculture.展开更多
Weedy rice is a species of <i>Oryza</i>,<span> </span>and is a wild relative of cultivated rice. The weed possess</span><span style="font-family:"">es</span><...Weedy rice is a species of <i>Oryza</i>,<span> </span>and is a wild relative of cultivated rice. The weed possess</span><span style="font-family:"">es</span><span style="font-family:""> unique hardiness that allows them to thrive in dynamic and stressful environments. These characteristics suggest that weedy rice is a stored source of novel genes for competitive traits. One such trait is allelopathy, where a species releases secondary metabolites that suppress the growth and development of neighboring species. Weed competition is a limiting factor in rice production systems;therefore, it is critical to identify specific allelopathic weedy rice accessions to determine the genetic pathways and mechanisms associated with allelopathy to be used in breeding programs. Due to the complex nature of allelochemical production and the lack of knowledge of allelopathy mechanisms in weedy rice, phenotypic traits, particularly root traits, can be used to overcome this limitation and serve as target characteristics for breeding weed suppressive rice varieties. Five weedy rice accessions were chosen from preliminary screenings of larger sample sizes with the ability to suppress barnyardgrass weed seedling growth. Another five weedy rice with low barnyardgrass suppression was selected for the current root phenotypic study. Five cultivated rice lines were used as a comparison. All plants were propagated in a transparent germination pouch for four weeks. Roots were scanned and analyzed for root length and area covered. No differences were found in the seedling root area among weedy rice and rice accessions;however, allelopathic weedy rice plants exhibited a 14% increase in root length than non-allelopathic weedy rice plants. The allelopathic weedy rice accession B2 possessed the most extended root system (22.4 cm root length). The highly allelopathic weedy rice accessions (including B2) screened and phenotyped in this study are ideal candidates for identifying the genetic controls of early root length, a possible trait contributing to underground allelopathic production and competitive advantage.展开更多
Optimal growth is essential for maximizing plant productivity.To achieve high levels of productivity,plants must demonstrate resilience to mitigate stress signals and efficiently take up and assimilate nutrients.The p...Optimal growth is essential for maximizing plant productivity.To achieve high levels of productivity,plants must demonstrate resilience to mitigate stress signals and efficiently take up and assimilate nutrients.The plant root,as the primary interface in contact with soil stimuli and also the key organ for nutrient consumption,has evolved mechanisms to balance nutrient signaling,stress response,and developmental cues.Root function is significantly influenced by its architecture layout,known as root system architecture(RSA),which is determined by primary roots,lateral roots,and root hairs.Understanding how plants modulate their RSA while managing a wide range of nutrient signals under suboptimal conditions will aid in the development of climate-resilient crops.Emerging evidence suggests that target of rapamycin(TOR)signaling plays a crucial role in RSA in response to environmental cues.Recently,Morales-Herrera et al.reviewed that TOR,SUCROSE NON-FERMETING-1-RELATED PROTEIN KINASE 1(SnRK1),and trehalose-6-phosphate(T6P)signaling jointly integrate nutritional signals to shape RSA.1 In this commentary,we emphasize the mechanisms through which plants employ TOR signaling to integrate stress responses and developmental programs,thereby enabling optional root growth.展开更多
Dopamine plays numerous physiological roles in plants.We explored its role in the regulation of growth,nutrient absorption,and response to nitrogen(N)deficiency in Malus hupehensis Rehd.Under low N condition,plant gro...Dopamine plays numerous physiological roles in plants.We explored its role in the regulation of growth,nutrient absorption,and response to nitrogen(N)deficiency in Malus hupehensis Rehd.Under low N condition,plant growth slowed,and the net photosynthetic rates,chlorophyll contents,and maximal quantum yield of PSII(Fv/Fm)decreased significantly.However,the application of 100μmol L−1 exogenous dopamine significantly reduced the inhibition of low N stress on plant growth.In addition to modifying root system architecture under low N supply,exogenous dopamine also changed the uptake,transport,and distribution of N,P,and K.Furthermore,exogenous dopamine enhances the tolerance to low nitrogen stress by increasing the activity of enzymes(nitrate reductase,nitrite reductase,glutamic acid synthase and glutamine synthetase)involved in N metabolism.We also found that exogenous dopamine promoted the expression of ethylene signaling genes(ERF1,ERF2,EIL1,ERS2,ETR1,and EIN4)under low N stress.Therefore,we hypothesized that ethylene might be involved in dopamine response to low N stress in M.hupehensis.Our results suggest that exogenous dopamine can mitigate low N stress by regulating the absorption of mineral nutrients,possibly through the regulation of the ethylene signaling pathway.展开更多
基金funded by the Guangxi Science and Technology Plan Project(Guike AD22080050)the Basic Research Ability Improvement Project of Young and Middle-aged Teachers of Universities in Guangxi(2022KY0386)+1 种基金the Opening Foundation of Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf,Ministry of Education,Nanning Normal University(NNNU-KLOP-K2202)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42471055).
文摘Root system architecture has often been overlooked in plant research despite its critical role in plant adaptation to environmental conditions.This study focused on the root system architecture of the desert shrub Reaumuria soongorica in the Alxa steppe desert,Northwest China.Plant samples were collected during May-September 2019.Using excavation methods,in situ measurements,and root scanning techniques,we analyzed the root distribution,topology,and branching patterns of R.soongorica across an age sequence of 7-51 a.Additionally,we investigated the allometric relationships of root collar diameter with total coarse root length,biomass,and topological parameters.The results showed that the roots of R.soongorica were predominantly concentrated in shallow soil layers(10-50 cm),with lateral root branching and biomass allocation increasing with shrub age.The root topology exhibited a herringbone-like structure,with average topological and modified topological indices of 0.89 and 0.96,respectively,both of which adjusted with shrub age.The root system displayed a self-similar branching pattern,maintaining a constant cross-sectional area ratio of 1.13 before and after branching,deviating from the area-preserving rule.These adaptive traits allow R.soongorica to efficiently expand its nutrient acquisition zone,minimize internal competition,and optimize resource uptake from the upper soil layers.Furthermore,significant linear relationships were observed between log10-transformed root collar diameter and log10-transformed total coarse root length,biomass,and topological parameters.These findings advance non-destructive approaches for studying root characteristics and contribute to the development of root-related models.Besides,this study provides new insights into the adaptive strategies of R.soongorica under extreme drought conditions,offering valuable guidance for species selection and cultivation in desert restoration efforts.
基金supported by the Key Technologies Research and Development Program,China(2022YFE0100500)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971954,31960405,32061143031)+2 种基金Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab and China National Seed Group(B23YQ1510)Gansu Province Industrial Support Plan(2022CYZC-46)Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF(GZC20230909).
文摘Drought is a natural disaster that profoundly impacts on global agricultural production,significantly reduces crop yields,and thereby poses a severe threat to worldwide food security.Addressing the challenge of effectively improving crop drought resistance(DR)to mitigate yield loss under drought conditions is a global issue.An optimal root system architecture(RSA)plays a pivotal role in enhancing the capacity of crops to efficiently uptake water and nutrients,which consequently strengthens their resilience against environmental stresses.In this review,we discuss the compositions and roles of crop RSA and summarize the most recent developments in augmenting drought tolerance in crops by manipulating RSA-related genes.Based on the current research,we propose the potential optimal RSA configuration that could be helpful in enhancing crop DR.Lastly,we discuss the existing challenges and future directions for breeding crops with enhanced DR capabilities through genetic improvements targeting RSA.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30800747)the Key Project of Ministry of Education of China (211107)the Science-Technology Research Project of Hubei Provincial Department of Education, China (Q20111301)
文摘Either arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi （AMF） or polyamines （PAs） may change root system architecture （RSA） of plants, whereas the interaction of AMF and PAs on RSA remains unclear. In the present study, we studied the interaction between AMF （Paraglomus occultum） and exogenous PAs, including putrescine （Put）, spermidine （Spd） and spermine （Spin） on mycorrhizal development of different parts of root system, plant growth, RSA and carbohydrate concentrations of 6-m-old citrus （Citrus tangerine Hort. ex Tanaka） seedlings. After 14 wk of PAs application, PA-treated mycorrhizal seedlings exhibited better mycorrhizal colonization and numbers of vesicles, arbuscules, and entry points, and the best mycorrhizal status of taproot, first-, second-, and third-order lateral roots was respectively found in mycorrhizal seedlings supplied with Put, Spd and Spm, suggesting that PAs might act as a regulated factor of mycorrhizal development through transformation of root sucrose more into glucose for sustaining mycorrhizal development. AMF usually notably increases RSA traits （taproot length, total length, average diameter, projected area, surface area, volume, and number of first-, second-, and third-order lateral roots） of only PA-treated seedlings. Among the three PA species, greater positive effects on RSA change and plant biomass increment of the seedlings generally rank as Spd〉Spm〉Put, irrespective of whether or not AMF colonization. PAs significantly changed the RSA traits in mycorrhizal but not in non-mycorrhizal seedlings. It suggests that the application of PAs （especially Spd） to AMF plants would optimize RSA of citrus seedlings, thus increasing plant growth （shoot and root dry weight）.
基金supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council,UK(BB/M001806/1,BB/L026848/1,BB/P026834/1,and BB/M019837/1)(MJB,DMW,and MPP)the Leverhulme Trust,UK(RPG-2016–409)(MJB and DMW)+1 种基金the European Research Council FUTUREROOTS Advanced Investigator Grant,UK(294729)to MG,JAA,DMW,and MJBthe University of Nottingham Future Food Beacon of Excellence,UK。
文摘The root system architecture(RSA) of a crop has a profound effect on the uptake of nutrients and consequently the potential yield. However, little is known about the genetic basis of RSA and resource adaptive responses in wheat(Triticum aestivum L.). Here, a high-throughput germination paper-based plant phenotyping system was used to identify seedling traits in a wheat doubled haploid mapping population, Savannah×Rialto. Significant genotypic and nitrate-N treatment variation was found across the population for seedling traits with distinct trait grouping for root size-related traits and root distribution-related traits. Quantitative trait locus(QTL) analysis identified a total of 59 seedling trait QTLs. Across two nitrate treatments, 27 root QTLs were specific to the nitrate treatment. Transcriptomic analyses for one of the QTLs on chromosome 2 D, which was found under low nitrate conditions, revealed gene enrichment in N-related biological processes and 28 differentially expressed genes with possible involvement in a root angle response. Together, these findings provide genetic insight into root system architecture and plant adaptive responses to nitrate, as well as targets that could help improve N capture in wheat.
基金supported by International Partnership Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(153E11KYSB20190059)G2P Project of Ministry of Science and Technology(2020YFE0202300)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2023A1515110406)。
文摘Plant roots are crucial for nitrogen uptake.To efficiently acquire N,root system architecture(RSA),which includes the length and quantity of primary roots,lateral roots and root hairs,is dynamically regulated by the surrounding N status.For crops,an ideotype RSA characterized by enhanced plasticity to meet various N demands under fluctuating N conditions is fundamental for high N utilization and subsequent yield.Therefore,exploring the genetic basis of N-dependent RSA,especially in crops,is of great significance.This review summarizes how plants sense both local and systemic N signals and transduce them to downstream pathways.Additionally,it presents the current understanding of genetic basis of N-dependent root plasticity in Arabidopsis and major crops.Also,to fully understand the mechanisms underlying N-dependent root morphogenesis and effectively identify loci associated with an ideotype RSA in crops,more attention should be paid to non-destructive,in situ phenotyping of root traits,cell-type-specific exploration of gene functions,and crosstalk between root architecture,environment and management in the future.
基金supported by the projects of the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2024YFD2301305)Jiangsu Innovation Support Program for International Science and Technology Cooperation Project(BZ2023049)+2 种基金the projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32272213)the China Agriculture Research System(CARS-03)Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production(JCIC-MCP).
文摘Optimizing root system architecture(RSA)is essential for plants because of its critical role in acquiring water and nutrients from the soil.However,the subterranean nature of roots complicates the measurement of RSA traits.Recently developed rhizobox methods allow for the rapid acquisition of root images.Nevertheless,effective and precise approaches for extracting RSA features from these images remain underdeveloped.Deep learning(DL)technology can enhance image segmentation and facilitate RSA trait extraction.However,comprehensive pipelines that integrate DL technologies into image-based root phenotyping techniques are still scarce,hampering their implementation.To address this challenge,we present a reproducible pipeline(faCRSA)for automated RSA traits analysis,consisting of three modules:(1)the RSA traits extraction module functions to segment soil-root images and calculate RSA traits.A lightweight convolutional neural network(CNN)named RootSeg was proposed for efficient and accurate segmentation;(2)the data storage module,which stores image and text data from other modules;and(3)the web application module,which allows researchers to analyze data online in a user-friendly manner.The correlation coefficients(R^(2))of total root length,root surface area,and root volume calculated from faCRSA and manually measured results were 0.96**,0.97**,and 0.93**,respectively,with root mean square errors(RMSE)of 8.13 cm,1.68 cm^(2),and 0.05 cm^(3),processed at a rate of 9.74 s per image,indicating satisfying accuracy.faCRSA has also demonstrated satisfactory performance in dynamically monitoring root system changes under various stress conditions,such as drought or waterlogging.The detailed code and deployable package of faCRSA are provided for researchers with the potential to replace manual and semi-automated methods.
文摘Overview of root system architecture.The plant root system is a highly dynamic and multifunctional organ system composed of primary roots,lateral roots,adventitious roots,and root hairs.Based on topological morphology,root systems can be classified as taproot systems or fibrous root systems.Root system architecture(RSA)refers to the spatial distribution and extension patterns of roots within soil,encompassing characteristics such as root length,branching angle,density,and spatial arrangement.RSA not only determines the plant’s capacity to acquire water and nutrients but also influences other root functions,playing a decisive role in overall plant health.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32020103004,32170251)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA24020309+1 种基金the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS(2019100)Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province(2018B020202012)。
文摘The Green Revolution of the 1960s boosted crop yields in part through widespread production of semidwarf plant cultivars and extensive use of mineral fertilizers.The beneficial semidwarfism of cereal Green Revolution cultivars is due to the accumulation of plant growth-repressing DELLA proteins,which increases lodging resistance but requires a high-nitrogen fertilizer to obtain high yield.Given that environmentally degrading fertilizer use underpins current worldwide crop production,future agricultural sustainability needs a sustainable Green Revolution through reducing N fertilizer use while boosting grain yield above what is currently achievable.Despite a great deal of research efforts,only a few genes have been demonstrated to improve N-use efficiency in crops.The molecular mechanisms underlying the coordination between plant growth and N metabolism is still not fully understood,thus preventing significant improvement.Recent advances of how plants sense,capture and respond to varying N supply in model plants have shed light on how to improve sustainable productivity in agriculture.This review focuses on the current understanding of root developmental and metabolic adaptations to N availability,and discuss the potential approaches to improve N-use efficiency in high-yielding cereal crops.
基金supported by 863 Project (2012AA10A305)Chinese Universities Scientific Fund (2014XJ036)+1 种基金NSF (31301321)948 Project (2011-G15)
文摘Maize（Zea mays） root system architecture（RSA）mediates the key functions of plant anchorage and acquisition of nutrients and water. In this study,a set of 204 recombinant inbred lines（RILs） was derived from the widely adapted Chinese hybrid ZD958（Zheng58 Chang7-2）,genotyped by sequencing（GBS） and evaluated as seedlings for 24 RSA related traits divided into primary,seminal and total root classes. Signi ficant differences between the means of the parental phenotypes were detected for 18 traits,and extensive transgressive segregation in the RIL population was observed for all traits. Moderate to strong relationships among the traits were discovered. A total of 62 quantitative trait loci（QTL） were identi fied that individually explained from1.6% to 11.6%（total root dry weight/total seedling shoot dry weight） of the phenotypic variation. Eighteen,24 and 20 QTL were identi fied for primary,seminal and total root classes of traits,respectively. We found hotspots of 5,3,4 and 12 QTL in maize chromosome bins 2.06,3.02-03,9.02-04,and 9.05-06,respectively,implicating the presence of root gene clusters or pleiotropic effects. These results characterized the phenotypic variation and genetic architecture of seedling RSA in a population derived from a successful maize hybrid.
基金supported in part by the National Science Foundation(IOS-1444549 to H.T.)the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft(WI1728/13-1 to N.v.W.)Grants-in-aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science,and Technology of Japan(T.K.)
文摘Plant root development is strongly affected by nutrient availability. Despite the importance of structure and function of roots in nutrient acquisition,statistical modeling approaches to evaluate dynamic and temporal modulations of root system architecture in response to nutrient availability have remained as widely open and exploratory areas in root biology. In this study,we developed a statistical modeling approach to investigate modulations of root system architecture in response to nitrogen availability. Mathematical models were designed for quantitative assessment of root growth and root branching phenotypes and their dynamic relationships based on hierarchical con figuration of primary and lateral roots formulating the fishbone-shaped root system architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana. Time-series datasets reporting dynamic changes in root developmental traits on different nitrate or ammonium concentrations were generated for statistical analyses. Regression analyses unraveled key parameters associated with：（i） inhibition of primary root growth under nitrogen limitation or on ammonium;（ii） rapid progression of lateral root emergence in response to ammonium; and（iii） inhibition of lateral root elongation in the presence of excess nitrate or ammonium. This study provides a statistical framework for interpreting dynamic modulation of root system architecture,supported by metaanalysis of datasets displaying morphological responses of roots to diverse nitrogen supplies.
基金the support of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council funding to the Centre for Plant Integrative Biologyfunding in the form of a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Professorial Research Fellowship+1 种基金European Research Council Advanced Investigator Grant funding(FUTUREROOTS)the Distinguished Scientist Fellowship Program(DSFP)at King Saud University
文摘A plant＇s ability to maintain or improve its yield under limiting conditions,such as nutrient de ficiency or drought,can be strongly in fluenced by root system architecture（RSA）,the three-dimensional distribution of the different root types in the soil. The ability to image,track and quantify these root system attributes in a dynamic fashion is a useful tool in assessing desirable genetic and physiological root traits. Recent advances in imaging technology and phenotyping software have resulted in substantive progress in describing and quantifying RSA. We have designed a hydroponic growth system which retains the three-dimensional RSA of the plant root system,while allowing for aeration,solution replenishment and the imposition of nutrient treatments,as well as high-quality imaging of the root system. The simplicity and flexibility of the system allows for modi fications tailored to the RSA of different crop species and improved throughput. This paper details the recent improvements and innovations in our root growth and imaging system which allows for greater image sensitivity（detection of fine roots and other root details）,higher ef ficiency,and a broad array of growing conditions for plants that more closely mimic those found under field conditions.
文摘Root system architecture(RSA)plays a pivotal role in efficient uptake of essential nutrients,such as phosphorous(P),nitrogen(N),and water In soils with heterogeneous nutrient distribution,root plasticity can optimize acquisition and plant growth.Here,we present evidence that a constitutive RSA can confer benefits for sorghum grown under both sufficient and limiting growth conditions.Our studies,using P efficient SC103 and inefficient BTx635 sorghum cultivars,identified significant differences in root traits,with SC103 developing a larger root system with more and longer lateral roots,and enhanced shoot biomass,under both nutrient sufficient and deficient conditions.In addition to this constitutive attribute,under P deficiency,both cultivars exhibited an initial increase in lateral root development;however,SC103 still maintained the larger root biomass.Although N deficiency and drought stress inhibited both root and shoot growth,for both sorghum cultivars,SC103 again maintained the better performance.These findings reveal that SC103,a P efficient sorghum cultivar,also exhibited enhanced growth performance under N deficiency and drought.Our results provide evidence that this constitutive nature of RSA can provide an avenue for breeding nutrient-and drought-resilient crops.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.32260085,31860064,31660501,31970609,32260718 and 31901870)the Key Projects of the Applied Basic Research Plan of Yunnan Province(Grant No.202301AS070082)+3 种基金the Start-up fund from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden,the‘Top Talents Program in Science and Technology’from Yunnan Province,the Major Science and Technology Project in Yunnan Province(Grant Nos.202102AE090042 and 202202AE090036)the Young and Middle-Aged Academic and Technical Leaders Reserve Talent Program in Yunnan Province(Grant No.202205AC160076)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2019M653849XB)the High-level Talents Introduction Plan of Yunnan Province-Young Talents Special Project。
文摘The formation of root system architecture(RSA)plays a crucial role in plant growth.OsDRO1 is known to have a function in controlling RSA in rice,however,the role of potato StDRO2,a homolog of rice OsDRO1,in root growth remains unclear.In this study,we obtained potato dro2 mutant lines by Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR-Associated 9(CRISPR/Cas9)-mediated genome editing system.The mutant lines were generated from a splicing defect of the StDRO2 intron 1,which causes a nonsense mutation in StDRO2.Furthermore,the secondary structure of StDRO2 mRNA analyzed with RNAfold Web Server was altered in the dro2 mutant.Mutation of StDRO2 conveys potato adaptation through changing the RSA via alteration of auxin transport under drought stress.The potato dro2 lines showed higher plant height,longer root length,smaller root growth angle and increased tuber weight than the wild-type.The alteration of RSA was associated with a disturbance of IAA distribution in the dro2 mutant,and the levels of StPIN7 and StPIN10 detected by using real-time PCR were up-regulated in the roots of potato dro2 lines grown under drought stress.Moreover,the microRNAs(miRNAs)PmiREN024536 and PmiREN024486 targeted the StDRO2 gene,and auxin positively and negatively regulated the expression of StDRO2 and the miRNAs PmiREN024536 and PmiREN024486,respectively,in the potato roots.Our data shows that a regulatory network involving auxin,StDRO2,PmiREN024536 and PmiREN024486 can control RSA to convey potato fitness under drought stress.
基金Financial support from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2018M632314)the State Key Program of China(2016YFD0300900)were acknowledged.
文摘Field-based phenotyping(FBP)of crop root systemarchitecture(RSA)provides away to quantify the root growth and distribution in fieldwith a smaller scale.Studies on a better understanding of the interrelations between field crop root physiological traits,root developmental phases and environmental changes are hindered due to deficiency of in situ root system architecture testing and quantitative methods for field crop.The present study aimed to propose a protocol for field-based wheat root system architecture with technical details of key operational procedures.Phenotyping of RSA traits from root spatial coordinate data acquisition and visualization software presented scaled illustrations of wheat RSA dynamics and root developmental phases which also revealed the root topological heterogeneities,eitherwithin a plant oramong individuals.Percentage of horizontal and vertical soil coverage by root showed that root foraging capability along soil depth was better than within the horizontal dimension.In brief,our data indicated that FBP ofwheat RSA could be achieved using the protocol of datadriven model-assisted phenotyping procedure.The proposed protocol was demonstrated useful for FBP of RSAs.It was proved effective to illustrate the topological structures of the wheat root system and to quantify RSAderived parameters,this could be a useful tool for characterizing and analyzing the structural distortion,heterogeneous distribution and the soil space exploration characteristics of wheat root.
文摘Sorghum’s natural adaptation to a wide range of abiotic stresses provides diverse genetic reserves for potential improvement in crop stress tolerance. Growing interest in sorghum research has led to the expansion of genetic resources though establishment of the sorghum association panel (SAP), generation of mutagenized populations, and recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> etc. Despite rapid improvement in biotechnological tools, lack of efficient phenotyping platforms remains one of the major obstacles in utilizing these genetic resources. Scarcity of efforts in root system phenotyping hinders identification and integration of the superior root traits advantageous to stress tolerance. Here, we explored multiple approaches in root phenotyping of an ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized sorghum population. Paper-based growth pouches (PGP) and hydroponics were employed to analyze root system architecture (RSA) variations induced by mutations and to test root development flexibility in response to phosphorus deficiency in early growing stages. PGP method had improved capabilities compared to hydroponics providing inexpensive, space-saving, and high-throughput phenotyping of sorghum roots. Preliminary observation revealed distinct phenotypic variations which were qualitatively and quantitatively systemized for association analysis. Phenotypes/ideotypes with root architecture variations potentially correlated with Pi acquisition were selected to evaluate their contribution to P-efficiency (PE). Sand mixed with P-loaded activated alumina substrate (SAS) provided closely to natural but still controlled single-variable conditions with regulated Pi availability. Due to higher labor and cost input we propose SAS to be used for evaluating selected sorghum candidates for PE. The ability of rapidly screening root phenotypes holds great potential for discovering genes responsible for relevant root traits and utilizing mutations to improve nutrient efficiency and crop productivity.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31871569 and 32172120)the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province,China(C2020204066)。
文摘Drought is an important abiotic stress factor in cotton production.The root system architecture(RSA)of cotton shows high plasticity which can alleviate drought-related stress under drought stress(DS)conditions;however,this alleviation is cultivar dependent.Therefore,this study estimated the genetic variability of RSA in cotton under DS.Using the paper-based growth system,we assessed the RSA variability in 80 cotton cultivars at the seedling stage,with 0 and10%polyethylene glycol 6000(PEG6000)as the control(CK)and DS treatment,respectively.An analysis of 23 aboveground and root traits in the 80 cotton cultivars revealed different responses to DS.On the 10th day after DS treatment,the degree of variation in the RSA traits under DS(5–55%)was greater than that of CK(5–49%).The 80 cultivars were divided into drought-tolerant cultivars(group 1),intermediate drought-tolerant cultivars(group 2),and drought-sensitive cultivars(group 3)based on their comprehensive evaluation values of drought resistance.Under DS,the root lengthlower,root area-lower,root volume-lower,and root length density-lower were significantly reduced by 63,71,76,and 4%in the drought-sensitive cultivars compared to CK.Notably,the drought-tolerant cultivars maintained their root lengthlower,root area-lower,root volume-lower,and root length density–lower attributes.Compared to CK,the root diameter(0–2 mm)-lower increased by 21%in group 1 but decreased by 3 and 64%in groups 2 and 3,respectively,under DS.Additionally,the drought-tolerant cultivars displayed a plastic response under DS that was characterized by an increase in the root-lower characteristics.Drought resistance was positively correlated with the root area-lower and root length density-lower.Overall,the RSA of the different cotton cultivars varied greatly under DS.Therefore,important root traits,such as the root-lower traits,provide great insights for exploring whether drought-tolerant cotton cultivars can effectively withstand adverse environments.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFF1000500 to L.Y.)the High-Level Talents Research Startup Fund of China Agricultural University(00114342 and 10092010 to J.L.)Pinduoduo-China Agricultural University Research Fund(PC2024B01009 to Z.J.).
文摘Nitrogen(N)is vital for crop growth and yield,impacting food quality.However,excessive use of N fertilizers leads to high agricultural costs and environmental challenges.This review offers a thorough synthesis of the genetic and molecular regulation of N uptake,assimilation,and remobilization in maize,emphasizing the role of key genes and metabolic pathways in enhancing N use efficiency(NUE).We summarize the genetic regulators of N transports for nitrate(NO3−)and ammonium(NH4+)that contribute to efficient N uptake and transportation.We further discuss the molecular mechanisms by which root system development adapts to N distribution and how N influences root system development and growth.Given the advancements in high-throughput microbiome studies,we delve into the impact of rhizosphere microorganisms on NUE and the complex plant-microbe interactions that regulate maize NUE.Additionally,we conclude with intricate regulatory mechanisms of N assimilation and remobilization in maize,involving key enzymes,transcription factors,and amino acid transporters.We also scrutinize the known N signaling perception and transduction mechanisms in maize.This review underscores the challenges in improving maize NUE and advocates for an integrative research approach that leverages genetic diversity and synthetic biology,paving the way for sustainable agriculture.
文摘Weedy rice is a species of <i>Oryza</i>,<span> </span>and is a wild relative of cultivated rice. The weed possess</span><span style="font-family:"">es</span><span style="font-family:""> unique hardiness that allows them to thrive in dynamic and stressful environments. These characteristics suggest that weedy rice is a stored source of novel genes for competitive traits. One such trait is allelopathy, where a species releases secondary metabolites that suppress the growth and development of neighboring species. Weed competition is a limiting factor in rice production systems;therefore, it is critical to identify specific allelopathic weedy rice accessions to determine the genetic pathways and mechanisms associated with allelopathy to be used in breeding programs. Due to the complex nature of allelochemical production and the lack of knowledge of allelopathy mechanisms in weedy rice, phenotypic traits, particularly root traits, can be used to overcome this limitation and serve as target characteristics for breeding weed suppressive rice varieties. Five weedy rice accessions were chosen from preliminary screenings of larger sample sizes with the ability to suppress barnyardgrass weed seedling growth. Another five weedy rice with low barnyardgrass suppression was selected for the current root phenotypic study. Five cultivated rice lines were used as a comparison. All plants were propagated in a transparent germination pouch for four weeks. Roots were scanned and analyzed for root length and area covered. No differences were found in the seedling root area among weedy rice and rice accessions;however, allelopathic weedy rice plants exhibited a 14% increase in root length than non-allelopathic weedy rice plants. The allelopathic weedy rice accession B2 possessed the most extended root system (22.4 cm root length). The highly allelopathic weedy rice accessions (including B2) screened and phenotyped in this study are ideal candidates for identifying the genetic controls of early root length, a possible trait contributing to underground allelopathic production and competitive advantage.
基金supported by the Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project(2023ZD04072).
文摘Optimal growth is essential for maximizing plant productivity.To achieve high levels of productivity,plants must demonstrate resilience to mitigate stress signals and efficiently take up and assimilate nutrients.The plant root,as the primary interface in contact with soil stimuli and also the key organ for nutrient consumption,has evolved mechanisms to balance nutrient signaling,stress response,and developmental cues.Root function is significantly influenced by its architecture layout,known as root system architecture(RSA),which is determined by primary roots,lateral roots,and root hairs.Understanding how plants modulate their RSA while managing a wide range of nutrient signals under suboptimal conditions will aid in the development of climate-resilient crops.Emerging evidence suggests that target of rapamycin(TOR)signaling plays a crucial role in RSA in response to environmental cues.Recently,Morales-Herrera et al.reviewed that TOR,SUCROSE NON-FERMETING-1-RELATED PROTEIN KINASE 1(SnRK1),and trehalose-6-phosphate(T6P)signaling jointly integrate nutritional signals to shape RSA.1 In this commentary,we emphasize the mechanisms through which plants employ TOR signaling to integrate stress responses and developmental programs,thereby enabling optional root growth.
基金This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFD1000303)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31972389)+1 种基金the Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province,China(2018JQ3001)Cyrus Tang Foundation,Northwest A&F University,China.The authors are grateful to Ms.Christina E.W.(Senior Editor,The Pennsylvania State University)for editing the language of the article.
文摘Dopamine plays numerous physiological roles in plants.We explored its role in the regulation of growth,nutrient absorption,and response to nitrogen(N)deficiency in Malus hupehensis Rehd.Under low N condition,plant growth slowed,and the net photosynthetic rates,chlorophyll contents,and maximal quantum yield of PSII(Fv/Fm)decreased significantly.However,the application of 100μmol L−1 exogenous dopamine significantly reduced the inhibition of low N stress on plant growth.In addition to modifying root system architecture under low N supply,exogenous dopamine also changed the uptake,transport,and distribution of N,P,and K.Furthermore,exogenous dopamine enhances the tolerance to low nitrogen stress by increasing the activity of enzymes(nitrate reductase,nitrite reductase,glutamic acid synthase and glutamine synthetase)involved in N metabolism.We also found that exogenous dopamine promoted the expression of ethylene signaling genes(ERF1,ERF2,EIL1,ERS2,ETR1,and EIN4)under low N stress.Therefore,we hypothesized that ethylene might be involved in dopamine response to low N stress in M.hupehensis.Our results suggest that exogenous dopamine can mitigate low N stress by regulating the absorption of mineral nutrients,possibly through the regulation of the ethylene signaling pathway.
