Phenotypic Variability of Root System Architecture Traits for Drought Tolerance among Accessions of Citron Watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> var. <i>citroides</i> (L.H. Bailey)
Citron watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> var. <i>citroides</i>) is a drought-tolerant cucurbit crop widely grown in sub-Saharan Africa in arid and semi-arid environments. The species is a C3 xerophyte used for multiple purposes, including intercropping with maize, and has...
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/19/2522 |
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| author | Takudzwa Mandizvo Alfred Oduor Odindo Jacob Mashilo Julia Sibiya Sascha Lynn Beck-Pay |
| author_facet | Takudzwa Mandizvo Alfred Oduor Odindo Jacob Mashilo Julia Sibiya Sascha Lynn Beck-Pay |
| author_sort | Takudzwa Mandizvo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Citron watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> var. <i>citroides</i>) is a drought-tolerant cucurbit crop widely grown in sub-Saharan Africa in arid and semi-arid environments. The species is a C3 xerophyte used for multiple purposes, including intercropping with maize, and has a deep taproot system. The deep taproot system plays a key role in the species’ adaptation to dry conditions. Understanding the root system development of this crop could be useful to identify traits for breeding water-use efficient and drought-tolerant varieties. This study compared the root system architecture of citron watermelon accessions under water-stress conditions. Nine selected and drought-tolerant citron watermelon accessions were grown under non-stress (NS) and water stress (WS) conditions using the root rhizotron procedure in a glasshouse. The following root system architecture (RSA) traits were measured: root system width (RSW), root system depth (RSD), convex hull area (CHA), total root length (TRL), root branch count (RBC), total root volume (TRV), leaf area (LA), leaf number (LN), first seminal root length (FSRL), seminal root angle (SRA), root dry mass (RDM), shoot dry mass (SDM), root–shoot mass ratio (RSM), root mass ratio (RMR), shoot mass ratio (SMR) and root tissue density (RTD). The data collected on RSA traits were subjected to an analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation and principal component analyses. ANOVA revealed a significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05) accession × water stress interaction effect for studied RSA traits. Under WS, RDM exhibited significant and positive correlations with RSM (r = 0.65), RMR (r = 0.66), RSD (r = 0.66), TRL (r = 0.60), RBC (r = 0.72), FSRL (r = 0.73) and LN (r = 0.70). The principal component analysis revealed high loading scores for the following RSA traits: RSW (0.89), RSD (0.97), TRL (0.99), TRV (0.90), TRL (0.99), RMR (0.96) and RDM (0.76). In conclusion, the study has shown that the identified RSA traits could be useful in crop improvement programmes for citron watermelon genotypes with enhanced drought adaptation for improved yield performance under drought-prone environments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:17:55Z |
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| id | doaj.art-794effff5d2d49fd8a42697efcb0832b |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:17:55Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-794effff5d2d49fd8a42697efcb0832b2023-11-23T21:28:50ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472022-09-011119252210.3390/plants11192522Phenotypic Variability of Root System Architecture Traits for Drought Tolerance among Accessions of Citron Watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> var. <i>citroides</i> (L.H. Bailey)Takudzwa Mandizvo0Alfred Oduor Odindo1Jacob Mashilo2Julia Sibiya3Sascha Lynn Beck-Pay4School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private BagX01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South AfricaSchool of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private BagX01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South AfricaLimpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Agriculture Regulatory and Technology Development, Directorate, Towoomba Research Centre, Private Bag X1615, Bela-Bela 0480, South AfricaSchool of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private BagX01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South AfricaSchool of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private BagX01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South AfricaCitron watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> var. <i>citroides</i>) is a drought-tolerant cucurbit crop widely grown in sub-Saharan Africa in arid and semi-arid environments. The species is a C3 xerophyte used for multiple purposes, including intercropping with maize, and has a deep taproot system. The deep taproot system plays a key role in the species’ adaptation to dry conditions. Understanding the root system development of this crop could be useful to identify traits for breeding water-use efficient and drought-tolerant varieties. This study compared the root system architecture of citron watermelon accessions under water-stress conditions. Nine selected and drought-tolerant citron watermelon accessions were grown under non-stress (NS) and water stress (WS) conditions using the root rhizotron procedure in a glasshouse. The following root system architecture (RSA) traits were measured: root system width (RSW), root system depth (RSD), convex hull area (CHA), total root length (TRL), root branch count (RBC), total root volume (TRV), leaf area (LA), leaf number (LN), first seminal root length (FSRL), seminal root angle (SRA), root dry mass (RDM), shoot dry mass (SDM), root–shoot mass ratio (RSM), root mass ratio (RMR), shoot mass ratio (SMR) and root tissue density (RTD). The data collected on RSA traits were subjected to an analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation and principal component analyses. ANOVA revealed a significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05) accession × water stress interaction effect for studied RSA traits. Under WS, RDM exhibited significant and positive correlations with RSM (r = 0.65), RMR (r = 0.66), RSD (r = 0.66), TRL (r = 0.60), RBC (r = 0.72), FSRL (r = 0.73) and LN (r = 0.70). The principal component analysis revealed high loading scores for the following RSA traits: RSW (0.89), RSD (0.97), TRL (0.99), TRV (0.90), TRL (0.99), RMR (0.96) and RDM (0.76). In conclusion, the study has shown that the identified RSA traits could be useful in crop improvement programmes for citron watermelon genotypes with enhanced drought adaptation for improved yield performance under drought-prone environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/19/2522biomass partitioningdigital root phenotypingimage analysisrhizotronroot architectureroot phenes |
| spellingShingle | Takudzwa Mandizvo Alfred Oduor Odindo Jacob Mashilo Julia Sibiya Sascha Lynn Beck-Pay Phenotypic Variability of Root System Architecture Traits for Drought Tolerance among Accessions of Citron Watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> var. <i>citroides</i> (L.H. Bailey) Plants biomass partitioning digital root phenotyping image analysis rhizotron root architecture root phenes |
| title | Phenotypic Variability of Root System Architecture Traits for Drought Tolerance among Accessions of Citron Watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> var. <i>citroides</i> (L.H. Bailey) |
| title_full | Phenotypic Variability of Root System Architecture Traits for Drought Tolerance among Accessions of Citron Watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> var. <i>citroides</i> (L.H. Bailey) |
| title_fullStr | Phenotypic Variability of Root System Architecture Traits for Drought Tolerance among Accessions of Citron Watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> var. <i>citroides</i> (L.H. Bailey) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phenotypic Variability of Root System Architecture Traits for Drought Tolerance among Accessions of Citron Watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> var. <i>citroides</i> (L.H. Bailey) |
| title_short | Phenotypic Variability of Root System Architecture Traits for Drought Tolerance among Accessions of Citron Watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> var. <i>citroides</i> (L.H. Bailey) |
| title_sort | phenotypic variability of root system architecture traits for drought tolerance among accessions of citron watermelon i citrullus lanatus i var i citroides i l h bailey |
| topic | biomass partitioning digital root phenotyping image analysis rhizotron root architecture root phenes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/19/2522 |
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