Effects of breeding history and crop management on the root architecture of wheat
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Effects of breeding history and crop management on the root architecture of wheat N. Fradgley & G. Evans & J.M. Biernaskie & J. Cockram & E.C. Marr & A. G. Oliver & E. Ober & H. Jones
Received: 27 February 2020 / Accepted: 25 May 2020 # The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Aims Selection for optimal root system architecture (RSA) is important to ensure genetic gains in the sustainable production of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Here we examine the hypothesis that past wheat breeding has led to changes in RSA and that future breeding efforts can focus directly on RSA to improve adaptation to target environments. Methods We conducted field trials using diverse wheat varieties, including modern and historic UK varieties and non-UK landraces, tested under contrasting tillage regimes (non-inversion tillage versus conventional ploughing) for two trial years or different seeding rates (standard versus high rate) for one trial year. We used field excavation, washing and measurement of root N. Fradgley and G. Evans contributed equally to this work. Responsible Editor: Anton Wasson. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04585-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
crowns (‘shovelomics’) to characterise RSA traits, including: numbers of seminal, crown and nodal roots per plant, and crown root growth angle. Results We found differences among genotypes for all root traits. Modern varieties generally had fewer roots per plant than historic varieties. On average, there were fewer crown roots and root angles were wider under shallow non-inversion tillage compared with conventional ploughing. Crown root numbers per plant also tended to be smaller at a high seeding rate compared with the standard. There were significant genotype-by-year, genotype-by-tillage and genotype-by-seeding-rate interactions for many root traits. Conclusions Smaller root systems are likely to be a result of past selection that facilitated historical yield increases by reducing below-ground competition within the crop. The effects of crop management practices on RSA depend on genotype, suggesting that future breeding could select for improved RSA traits in resource-efficient farming systems.
N. Fradgley : G. Evans : J. Cockram : E. Marr : A. G. Oliver : E. Ober : H. Jones The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge CB3 0LE, UK
Keywords Conservation agriculture . Crop breeding . Genetic diversity . Root phenotyping . Seeding rate . Shovelomics . Tillage . Wheat
N. Fradgley (*) : E. Marr Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK e-mail: [email protected]
Glossary CRN Crown root number CT Conventional tillage NRN Nodal root number RA Root angle RSA Root system architecture SNI Shallow non-inversion tillage SRN Seminal root number
J. Biernaskie Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
Plant Soil
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