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Root anatomical traits contribute to deeper rooting of maize under compacted field conditions

Vanhees, Dorien J.; Loades, Kenneth W.; Glyn Bengough, A.; Mooney, Sacha J.; Lynch, Jonathan P.

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Authors

Dorien J. Vanhees

Kenneth W. Loades

A. Glyn Bengough

SACHA MOONEY sacha.mooney@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Soil Physics

Jonathan P. Lynch



Abstract

© The Author(s) 2020. To better understand the role of root anatomy in regulating plant adaptation to soil mechanical impedance, 12 maize lines were evaluated in two soils with and without compaction treatments under field conditions. Penetrometer resistance was 1–2 MPa greater in the surface 30 cm of the compacted plots at a water content of 17–20% (v/v). Root thickening in response to compaction varied among genotypes and was negatively associated with rooting depth at one field site under non-compacted plots. Thickening was not associated with rooting depth on compacted plots. Genotypic variation in root anatomy was related to rooting depth. Deeper-rooting plants were associated with reduced cortical cell file number in combination with greater mid cortical cell area for node 3 roots. For node 4, roots with increased aerenchyma were deeper roots. A greater influence of anatomy on rooting depth was observed for the thinner root classes. We found no evidence that root thickening is related to deeper rooting in compacted soil; however, anatomical traits are important, especially for thinner root classes.

Citation

Vanhees, D. J., Loades, K. W., Glyn Bengough, A., Mooney, S. J., & Lynch, J. P. (2020). Root anatomical traits contribute to deeper rooting of maize under compacted field conditions. Journal of Experimental Botany, 71(14), 4243-4257. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eraa165

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 30, 2020
Online Publication Date May 18, 2020
Publication Date Jul 6, 2020
Deposit Date Aug 25, 2020
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Journal of Experimental Botany
Print ISSN 0022-0957
Electronic ISSN 1460-2431
Publisher Oxford University Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 71
Issue 14
Pages 4243-4257
DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eraa165
Keywords Plant Science; Physiology
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4850962
Publisher URL https://academic.oup.com/jxb/article/71/14/4243/5838731

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