Abstract
Abstract Functional-structural root system models combine functional and structural root traits to represent the growth and development of root systems. In general, they are characterized by a large number of growth, architectural and functional root parameters, generating contrasted root systems evolving in a highly non-linear environment (soil, atmosphere), which makes the link between local traits and functioning unclear. On the other end of the root system modelling continuum, macroscopic root system models associate to each root system a set of plant-scale, easily interpretable parameters. However, as of today, it is unclear how these macroscopic parameters relate to root-scale traits and whether the upscaling of local root traits is compatible with macroscopic parameter measurements. The aim of this study was to bridge the gap between these two modelling approaches. We describe here the MAize Root System Hydraulic Architecture soLver (MARSHAL), a new efficient and user-friendly computational tool that couples a root architecture model (CRootBox) with fast and accurate algorithms of water flow through hydraulic architectures and plant-scale parameter calculations. To illustrate the tool’s potential, we generated contrasted maize hydraulic architectures that we compared with root system architectural and hydraulic observations. Observed variability of these traits was well captured by model ensemble runs. We also analysed the multivariate sensitivity of mature root system conductance, mean depth of uptake, root system volume and convex hull to the input parameters to highlight the key model parameters to vary for virtual breeding. It is available as an R package, an RMarkdown pipeline and a web application.
Highlights
Root systems (RS) are excellent candidates for contributing to the development of novel drought tolerant cultivars because of their key role in water uptake and their wide genetic variability (Wasson et al 2012).Several authors, such as Lynch (2013) for maize or Comas et al (2013) for wheat, have proposed specific combinations of optimal trait states that should minimize water limitation and potentially optimize yield under scarce water conditions (Donald 1968)
We describe here the MAize Root System Hydraulic Architecture soLver (MARSHAL), a new efficient and user-friendly computational tool that couples a root architecture model (CRootBox) with fast and accurate algorithms of water flow through hydraulic architectures and plant-scale parameter calculations, and a review of architectural and hydraulic parameters of maize
The initial narrow distributions expand with root system aging since the first model outputs are by definition well constrained
Summary
Root systems (RS) are excellent candidates for contributing to the development of novel drought tolerant cultivars because of their key role in water uptake and their wide genetic variability (Wasson et al 2012) Several authors, such as Lynch (2013) for maize or Comas et al (2013) for wheat, have proposed specific combinations of optimal trait states that should minimize water limitation and potentially optimize yield under scarce water conditions (Donald 1968). State-of-the-art FSRSM are able to numerically simulate water movement in the so-called soil-plant-atmosphere continuum from the root uptake location to the shoot These models combine root functional (i.e. hydraulic) and structural (i.e. architectural) information to describe plant root systems and represent their functioning over time in their surrounding environment (soil and atmosphere), see for example R-SWMS from Javaux et al (2008)
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