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Root foraging capacity in bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) core parental lines depends on the root system architecture during the pre-flowering stage

Mateva, Kumbirai Ivyne; Mateva, Kumbirai; Mayes, Sean; Massawe, Festo; Chai, Hui Hui

Root foraging capacity in bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) core parental lines depends on the root system architecture during the pre-flowering stage Thumbnail


Authors

Kumbirai Ivyne Mateva

Kumbirai Mateva

SEAN MAYES SEAN.MAYES@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Associate Professor

Festo Massawe

Hui Hui Chai



Contributors

Kumbirai Mateva
Researcher

Hui Hui Chai
Researcher

Festo Massawe
Researcher

Abstract

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Characterizing the morphological variability in root system architecture (RSA) during the sensitive pre-flowering growth stage is important for crop performance. To assess this variation, eight bambara groundnut single genotypes derived from landraces of contrasting geographic origin were selected for root system architecture and rooting distribution studies. Plants were grown in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) column system under controlled water and nutrient availability in a rainout shelter. Days to 50% plant emergence was characterized during the first two weeks after sowing, while taproot length (TRL), root length (RL), root length density (RLD), branching number (BN), branching density (BD) and intensity (BI), surface area (SA), root volume (RV), root diameter (RDia), root dry weight (RDW), shoot dry weight (SDW), and shoot height (SH) were determined at the end of the experiment, i.e., 35 days after emergence. Genotypes S19-3 and DipC1 sourced from drier regions of sub-Saharan Africa generally had longer taproots and greater root length distribution in deeper (60 to 90 cm) soil depths. In contrast, bambara groundnut genotypes from wetter regions (i.e., Gresik, Lunt, and IITA-686) in Southeast Asia and West Africa exhibited relatively shallow and highly branched root growth closer to the soil surface. Genotypes at the pre-flowering growth stage showed differential root foraging patterns and branching habits with two extremes, i.e., deep-cheap rooting in the genotypes sourced from dry regions and a shallow-costly rooting system in genotypes adapted to higher rainfall areas with shallow soils. We propose specific bambara groundnut genotype as donors in root trait driven breeding programs to improve water capture and use efficiency.

Citation

Mateva, K. I., Mateva, K., Mayes, S., Massawe, F., & Chai, H. H. (2020). Root foraging capacity in bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) core parental lines depends on the root system architecture during the pre-flowering stage. Plants, 9(5), https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9050645

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 12, 2020
Online Publication Date May 19, 2020
Publication Date May 19, 2020
Deposit Date Mar 13, 2020
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Plants
Electronic ISSN 2223-7747
Publisher MDPI
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 9
Issue 5
Article Number 645
DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9050645
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4136393
Publisher URL https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/5/645

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