Root Genomics
With the predicted increase of the human population and the subsequent need for larger food supplies, root health in crop plants could play a major role in providing sustainable highly productive crops that can cope with global climate changes. While the
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Antonio Costa de Oliveira Editors
Root Genomics
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Rajeev K. Varshney
Editors Professor Antonio Costa de Oliveira Plant Genomics and Breeding Center Federal University of Pelotas Campus Universitario s/n, FAEM 3 andar Pelotas-RS 96001-970, Brazil [email protected] Rajeev K. Varshney Principal Scientist - ICRISAT; Theme Leader, CGIAR Generation Challenge Programme; Adjunct Professor, The University of Western Australia Centre of Excellence in Genomics (CEG) ICRISAT Patancheru 502 324, A.P., India [email protected]
ISBN 978-3-540-85545-3 e-ISBN 978-3-540-85546-0 DOI 10.1007/978-3-540-85546-0 Springer Heidelberg Dordrecht London New York # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Violations are liable to prosecution under the German Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Cover illustration: Roots of White Lupin (Lupinus albus). The photo has been taken from Drs. Bruna Bucciarelli and Carroll Vance, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA and the editors are grateful for the same. Cover design: deblik Berlin, Germany Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Foreword
Root Biology: An Inconvenient Truth The truth is that roots usually are as extensively underground as the aerial portions are above the ground. Crop plants would not live without roots. Roots absorb water and nutrients and anchor the plant in the soil. So why do not we know more about roots? It is likely due to the inconvenience of phenotyping root characteristics – and many of today’s phenotyping methods are destructive. While we recognize the essentiality of roots and their relation to plant performance, the scientific community has not placed a sufficiently high priority on their analysis to make the needed major advances. Many of the factors that affect root health can result in a 50% yield loss when deficient. Given that the predicted human population increase is 50% by 2050, the improvement of root health in crop plants could play a major role in meeting the world’s need for increased food. The study of root biology involves extensive plant–soil–water interactions that are complicated by the microorganisms and insects in the rhizosphere that can alter root development. Each of the
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