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Effects of breeding history and crop management on the root architecture of wheat

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Evans, G. 
Biernaskie, J.M. 
Cockram, J. 
Marr, E.C. 

Abstract

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 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.

Description

Funder: FP7 Ideas: European Research Council; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100011199; Grant(s): FP7- 613556

Keywords

Regular Article, Conservation agriculture, Crop breeding, Genetic diversity, Root phenotyping, Seeding rate, Shovelomics, Tillage, Wheat

Journal Title

Plant and Soil

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0032-079X
1573-5036

Volume Title

452

Publisher

Springer International Publishing
Sponsorship
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/M011666/1, BB/M013995/1)
Nuffield Foundation (NA)