Nodal root diameter and node number in maize (Zea mays L.) interact to influence plant growth under nitrogen stress
Abstract Under nitrogen limitation, plants increase resource allocation to root growth relative to shoot growth. The utility of various root architectural and anatomical phenotypes for nitrogen acquisition are not well understood. Nodal root number and root cross‐sectional area were evaluated in mai...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2021-03-01
|
| Series: | Plant Direct |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/pld3.310 |
| _version_ | 1818665072975675392 |
|---|---|
| author | Hannah M. Schneider Jennifer T. Yang Kathleen M. Brown Jonathan P. Lynch |
| author_facet | Hannah M. Schneider Jennifer T. Yang Kathleen M. Brown Jonathan P. Lynch |
| author_sort | Hannah M. Schneider |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Under nitrogen limitation, plants increase resource allocation to root growth relative to shoot growth. The utility of various root architectural and anatomical phenotypes for nitrogen acquisition are not well understood. Nodal root number and root cross‐sectional area were evaluated in maize in field and greenhouse environments. Nodal root number and root cross‐sectional area were inversely correlated under both high and low nitrogen conditions. Attenuated emergence of root nodes, as opposed to differences in the number of axial roots per node, was associated with substantially reduced root number. Greater root cross‐sectional area was associated with a greater stele area and number of cortical cell files. Genotypes that produced few, thick nodal roots rather than many, thin nodal roots had deeper rooting and better shoot growth in low nitrogen environments. Fewer nodal roots offset the respiratory and nitrogen costs of thicker diameter roots, since total nodal root respiration and nitrogen content was similar for genotypes with many, thin and few, thick nodal roots. We propose that few, thick nodal roots may enable greater capture of deep soil nitrogen and improve plant performance under nitrogen stress. Synergistic interactions between an architectural and anatomical trait may be an important strategy for nitrogen acquisition. Understanding trait interactions among different root nodes has important implications in for improving crop nutrient uptake and stress tolerance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T05:42:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7f01cd110a8244c7a0e6f01bb20dfbdc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2475-4455 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T05:42:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plant Direct |
| spelling | doaj.art-7f01cd110a8244c7a0e6f01bb20dfbdc2022-12-21T22:01:24ZengWileyPlant Direct2475-44552021-03-0153n/an/a10.1002/pld3.310Nodal root diameter and node number in maize (Zea mays L.) interact to influence plant growth under nitrogen stressHannah M. Schneider0Jennifer T. Yang1Kathleen M. Brown2Jonathan P. Lynch3Department of Plant Science The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USADepartment of Plant Science The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USADepartment of Plant Science The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USADepartment of Plant Science The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USAAbstract Under nitrogen limitation, plants increase resource allocation to root growth relative to shoot growth. The utility of various root architectural and anatomical phenotypes for nitrogen acquisition are not well understood. Nodal root number and root cross‐sectional area were evaluated in maize in field and greenhouse environments. Nodal root number and root cross‐sectional area were inversely correlated under both high and low nitrogen conditions. Attenuated emergence of root nodes, as opposed to differences in the number of axial roots per node, was associated with substantially reduced root number. Greater root cross‐sectional area was associated with a greater stele area and number of cortical cell files. Genotypes that produced few, thick nodal roots rather than many, thin nodal roots had deeper rooting and better shoot growth in low nitrogen environments. Fewer nodal roots offset the respiratory and nitrogen costs of thicker diameter roots, since total nodal root respiration and nitrogen content was similar for genotypes with many, thin and few, thick nodal roots. We propose that few, thick nodal roots may enable greater capture of deep soil nitrogen and improve plant performance under nitrogen stress. Synergistic interactions between an architectural and anatomical trait may be an important strategy for nitrogen acquisition. Understanding trait interactions among different root nodes has important implications in for improving crop nutrient uptake and stress tolerance.https://doi.org/10.1002/pld3.310maizenitrogen stressroot cross‐sectional arearoot numbertrait interactions |
| spellingShingle | Hannah M. Schneider Jennifer T. Yang Kathleen M. Brown Jonathan P. Lynch Nodal root diameter and node number in maize (Zea mays L.) interact to influence plant growth under nitrogen stress Plant Direct maize nitrogen stress root cross‐sectional area root number trait interactions |
| title | Nodal root diameter and node number in maize (Zea mays L.) interact to influence plant growth under nitrogen stress |
| title_full | Nodal root diameter and node number in maize (Zea mays L.) interact to influence plant growth under nitrogen stress |
| title_fullStr | Nodal root diameter and node number in maize (Zea mays L.) interact to influence plant growth under nitrogen stress |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nodal root diameter and node number in maize (Zea mays L.) interact to influence plant growth under nitrogen stress |
| title_short | Nodal root diameter and node number in maize (Zea mays L.) interact to influence plant growth under nitrogen stress |
| title_sort | nodal root diameter and node number in maize zea mays l interact to influence plant growth under nitrogen stress |
| topic | maize nitrogen stress root cross‐sectional area root number trait interactions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/pld3.310 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hannahmschneider nodalrootdiameterandnodenumberinmaizezeamayslinteracttoinfluenceplantgrowthundernitrogenstress AT jennifertyang nodalrootdiameterandnodenumberinmaizezeamayslinteracttoinfluenceplantgrowthundernitrogenstress AT kathleenmbrown nodalrootdiameterandnodenumberinmaizezeamayslinteracttoinfluenceplantgrowthundernitrogenstress AT jonathanplynch nodalrootdiameterandnodenumberinmaizezeamayslinteracttoinfluenceplantgrowthundernitrogenstress |