Evolution of root plasticity responses to variation in soil nutrient distribution and concentration

Abstract Root plasticity, a trait that can respond to selective pressure, may help plants forage for nutrients in heterogeneous soils. Agricultural breeding programs have artificially selected for increased yield under comparatively homogeneous soil conditions, potentially decreasing the capacity fo...

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Main Authors: Judah D. Grossman, Kevin J. Rice
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-12-01
Series:Evolutionary Applications
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-4571.2012.00263.x
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author Judah D. Grossman
Kevin J. Rice
author_facet Judah D. Grossman
Kevin J. Rice
author_sort Judah D. Grossman
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Root plasticity, a trait that can respond to selective pressure, may help plants forage for nutrients in heterogeneous soils. Agricultural breeding programs have artificially selected for increased yield under comparatively homogeneous soil conditions, potentially decreasing the capacity for plasticity in crop plants like barley (Hordeum vulgare). However, the effects of domestication on the evolution of root plasticity are essentially unknown. Using a split container approach, we examined the differences in root plasticity among three domestication levels of barley germplasm (wild, landrace, and cultivar) grown under different concentrations and distribution patterns of soil nutrients. Domestication level, nutrient concentration, and nutrient distribution interactively affected average root diameter; differential root allocation (within‐plant plasticity) was greatest in wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum), especially under low nutrient levels. Correlations of within‐plant root plasticity and plant size were most pronounced in modern cultivars under low‐nutrient conditions. Barley plants invested more resources to root systems when grown in low‐nutrient soils and allocated more roots to higher‐nutrient locations. Root plasticity in barley is scale dependent and varies with domestication level. Although wild barley harbors a greater capacity for within‐plant root plasticity than domesticated barley, cultivars exhibited the greatest capacity to translate within‐plant plasticity into increased plant size.
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spelling doaj.art-6ec1d1100601447891d8c5d8b041bd8c2022-12-22T01:07:34ZengWileyEvolutionary Applications1752-45712012-12-015885085710.1111/j.1752-4571.2012.00263.xEvolution of root plasticity responses to variation in soil nutrient distribution and concentrationJudah D. Grossman0Kevin J. Rice1Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USADepartment of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USAAbstract Root plasticity, a trait that can respond to selective pressure, may help plants forage for nutrients in heterogeneous soils. Agricultural breeding programs have artificially selected for increased yield under comparatively homogeneous soil conditions, potentially decreasing the capacity for plasticity in crop plants like barley (Hordeum vulgare). However, the effects of domestication on the evolution of root plasticity are essentially unknown. Using a split container approach, we examined the differences in root plasticity among three domestication levels of barley germplasm (wild, landrace, and cultivar) grown under different concentrations and distribution patterns of soil nutrients. Domestication level, nutrient concentration, and nutrient distribution interactively affected average root diameter; differential root allocation (within‐plant plasticity) was greatest in wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum), especially under low nutrient levels. Correlations of within‐plant root plasticity and plant size were most pronounced in modern cultivars under low‐nutrient conditions. Barley plants invested more resources to root systems when grown in low‐nutrient soils and allocated more roots to higher‐nutrient locations. Root plasticity in barley is scale dependent and varies with domestication level. Although wild barley harbors a greater capacity for within‐plant root plasticity than domesticated barley, cultivars exhibited the greatest capacity to translate within‐plant plasticity into increased plant size.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-4571.2012.00263.xartificial selectionbarleyevolution of plasticityHordeum spontaneumHordeum vulgareplant domestication
spellingShingle Judah D. Grossman
Kevin J. Rice
Evolution of root plasticity responses to variation in soil nutrient distribution and concentration
Evolutionary Applications
artificial selection
barley
evolution of plasticity
Hordeum spontaneum
Hordeum vulgare
plant domestication
title Evolution of root plasticity responses to variation in soil nutrient distribution and concentration
title_full Evolution of root plasticity responses to variation in soil nutrient distribution and concentration
title_fullStr Evolution of root plasticity responses to variation in soil nutrient distribution and concentration
title_full_unstemmed Evolution of root plasticity responses to variation in soil nutrient distribution and concentration
title_short Evolution of root plasticity responses to variation in soil nutrient distribution and concentration
title_sort evolution of root plasticity responses to variation in soil nutrient distribution and concentration
topic artificial selection
barley
evolution of plasticity
Hordeum spontaneum
Hordeum vulgare
plant domestication
url https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-4571.2012.00263.x
work_keys_str_mv AT judahdgrossman evolutionofrootplasticityresponsestovariationinsoilnutrientdistributionandconcentration
AT kevinjrice evolutionofrootplasticityresponsestovariationinsoilnutrientdistributionandconcentration