Crop root system plasticity for improved yields in saline soils
Crop yields must increase to meet the demands of a growing world population. Soil salinization is increasing due to the impacts of climate change, reducing the area of arable land for crop production. Plant root systems are plastic, and their architecture can be modulated to (1) acquire nutrients an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1120583/full |
| _version_ | 1797895170491940864 |
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| author | Megan C. Shelden Rana Munns |
| author_facet | Megan C. Shelden Rana Munns |
| author_sort | Megan C. Shelden |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Crop yields must increase to meet the demands of a growing world population. Soil salinization is increasing due to the impacts of climate change, reducing the area of arable land for crop production. Plant root systems are plastic, and their architecture can be modulated to (1) acquire nutrients and water for growth, and (2) respond to hostile soil environments. Saline soils inhibit primary root growth and alter root system architecture (RSA) of crop plants. In this review, we explore how crop root systems respond and adapt to salinity, focusing predominately on the staple cereal crops wheat, maize, rice, and barley, that all play a major role in global food security. Cereal crops are classified as glycophytes (salt-sensitive) however salt-tolerance can differ both between species and within a species. In the past, due to the inherent difficulties associated with visualising and measuring root traits, crop breeding strategies have tended to focus on optimising shoot traits. High-resolution phenotyping techniques now make it possible to visualise and measure root traits in soil systems. A steep, deep and cheap root ideotype has been proposed for water and nitrogen capture. Changes in RSA can be an adaptive strategy to avoid saline soils whilst optimising nutrient and water acquisition. In this review we propose a new model for designing crops with a salt-tolerant root ideotype. The proposed root ideotype would exhibit root plasticity to adapt to saline soils, root anatomical changes to conserve energy and restrict sodium (Na+) uptake, and transport mechanisms to reduce the amount of Na+ transported to leaves. In the future, combining high-resolution root phenotyping with advances in crop genetics will allow us to uncover root traits in complex crop species such as wheat, that can be incorporated into crop breeding programs for yield stability in saline soils. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:21:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ccfdb79ee5d640098b74095d21ce8323 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:21:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-ccfdb79ee5d640098b74095d21ce83232023-02-24T11:27:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2023-02-011410.3389/fpls.2023.11205831120583Crop root system plasticity for improved yields in saline soilsMegan C. Shelden0Rana Munns1School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Urrbrae, SA, AustraliaAustralian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, AustraliaCrop yields must increase to meet the demands of a growing world population. Soil salinization is increasing due to the impacts of climate change, reducing the area of arable land for crop production. Plant root systems are plastic, and their architecture can be modulated to (1) acquire nutrients and water for growth, and (2) respond to hostile soil environments. Saline soils inhibit primary root growth and alter root system architecture (RSA) of crop plants. In this review, we explore how crop root systems respond and adapt to salinity, focusing predominately on the staple cereal crops wheat, maize, rice, and barley, that all play a major role in global food security. Cereal crops are classified as glycophytes (salt-sensitive) however salt-tolerance can differ both between species and within a species. In the past, due to the inherent difficulties associated with visualising and measuring root traits, crop breeding strategies have tended to focus on optimising shoot traits. High-resolution phenotyping techniques now make it possible to visualise and measure root traits in soil systems. A steep, deep and cheap root ideotype has been proposed for water and nitrogen capture. Changes in RSA can be an adaptive strategy to avoid saline soils whilst optimising nutrient and water acquisition. In this review we propose a new model for designing crops with a salt-tolerant root ideotype. The proposed root ideotype would exhibit root plasticity to adapt to saline soils, root anatomical changes to conserve energy and restrict sodium (Na+) uptake, and transport mechanisms to reduce the amount of Na+ transported to leaves. In the future, combining high-resolution root phenotyping with advances in crop genetics will allow us to uncover root traits in complex crop species such as wheat, that can be incorporated into crop breeding programs for yield stability in saline soils.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1120583/fullsalinityroot elongationroot system architectureabiotic stresswheatbarley |
| spellingShingle | Megan C. Shelden Rana Munns Crop root system plasticity for improved yields in saline soils Frontiers in Plant Science salinity root elongation root system architecture abiotic stress wheat barley |
| title | Crop root system plasticity for improved yields in saline soils |
| title_full | Crop root system plasticity for improved yields in saline soils |
| title_fullStr | Crop root system plasticity for improved yields in saline soils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Crop root system plasticity for improved yields in saline soils |
| title_short | Crop root system plasticity for improved yields in saline soils |
| title_sort | crop root system plasticity for improved yields in saline soils |
| topic | salinity root elongation root system architecture abiotic stress wheat barley |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1120583/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT megancshelden croprootsystemplasticityforimprovedyieldsinsalinesoils AT ranamunns croprootsystemplasticityforimprovedyieldsinsalinesoils |