Lateral Root Length Research Articles

Whole plant acclimation responses by finger millet to low nitrogen stress.

The small grain cereal, finger millet (FM, Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn), is valued by subsistence farmers in India and East Africa as a low-input crop. It is reported by farmers to require no added nitrogen (N), or only residual N, to produce grain. Exact mechanisms underlying the acclimation responses of FM to low N are largely unknown, both above and below ground. In particular, the responses of FM roots and root hairs to N or any other nutrient have not previously been reported. Given its low N requirement, FM also provides a rare opportunity to study long-term responses to N starvation in a cereal species. The objective of this study was to survey the shoot and root morphometric responses of FM, including root hairs, to low N stress. Plants were grown in pails in a semi-hydroponic system on clay containing extremely low background N, supplemented with N or no N. To our surprise, plants grown without deliberately added N grew to maturity, looked relatively normal and produced healthy seed heads. Plants responded to the low N treatment by decreasing shoot, root, and seed head biomass. These declines under low N were associated with decreased shoot tiller number, crown root number, total crown root length and total lateral root length, but with no consistent changes in root hair traits. Changes in tiller and crown root number appeared to coordinate the above and below ground acclimation responses to N. We discuss the remarkable ability of FM to grow to maturity without deliberately added N. The results suggest that FM should be further explored to understand this trait. Our observations are consistent with indigenous knowledge from subsistence farmers in Africa and Asia, where it is reported that this crop can survive extreme environments.

MADS-box transcription factor OsMADS25 regulates root development through affection of nitrate accumulation in rice.

MADS-box transcription factors are vital regulators participating in plant growth and development process and the functions of most of them are still unknown. ANR1 was reported to play a key role in controlling lateral root development through nitrate signal in Arabidopsis. OsMADS25 is one of five ANR1-like genes in Oryza Sativa and belongs to the ANR1 clade. Here we have investigated the role of OsMADS25 in the plant’s responses to external nitrate in Oryza Sativa. Our results showed that OsMADS25 protein was found in the nucleus as well as in the cytoplasm. Over-expression of OsMADS25 significantly promoted lateral and primary root growth as well as shoot growth in a nitrate-dependent manner in Arabidopsis. OsMADS25 overexpression in transgenic rice resulted in significantly increased primary root length, lateral root number, lateral root length and shoot fresh weight in the presence of nitrate. Down-regulation of OsMADS25 in transgenic rice exhibited significantly reduced shoot and root growth in the presence of nitrate. Furthermore, over-expression of OsMADS25 in transgenic rice promoted nitrate accumulation and significantly increased the expressions of nitrate transporter genes at high rates of nitrate supply while down-regulation of OsMADS25 produced the opposite effect. Taken together, our findings suggest that OsMADS25 is a positive regulator control lateral and primary root development in rice.

Influence of rhizosphere ventilation on soil nutrient status, root architecture and the growth of young peach trees

The peach tree root respiration rate is high, which requires large amounts of oxygen. When the rhizosphere oxygen content is poor, the root respiration and energy metabolism are restrained which will have negative impacts on peach trees growth, fruit quality and yield, especially during high temperature and rainy season. Our objectives were to investigate the relationship between rhizosphere ventilation and orchard soil enzyme activity, nutrient status, root architecture and growth of young peach trees. Two-year-old ‘Chunmei’ peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) was subjected to various treatments (Treatment 1 [T1]: ventilation every three days; T2: ventilation every six days; T3: natural ventilation; Control: no ventilation) under field cultivation conditions. The soil oxygen content decreased and subsequently increased during the growth period, reaching a minimum in August. The rhizosphere soil oxygen content was higher under ventilation treatment than control, and T1 markedly increased the rhizosphere soil oxygen content. The rhizosphere soil available K and organic matter decreased while the rhizosphere soil available N and available P content increased and the soil enzyme activity was improved under ventilation treatments. The root activity and root nitrate reductase activity increased under ventilation treatments. Under T1, the total root surface area, total root length and number of first lateral root and second lateral root were increased significantly, but the average root diameter and the average length of first lateral root was reduced significantly, the branching angle between first lateral root and vertically downward direction was decreased, the number of small angle was increased. T1improved leaf functions and increased the net photosynthetic rate. Under T1, the leaf chlorophyll content and leaf protective enzyme activity (Superoxide dismutase, Guaiacol peroxidase and Catalase) increased markedly in the middle- and late-growth period and leaf senescence was postponed. The total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents of young peach roots, shoots and leaves, as well as shoot growth, leaf weight and leaf area, increased under T1.

Reduced Lateral Root Branching Density Improves Drought Tolerance in Maize.

An emerging paradigm is that root traits that reduce the metabolic costs of soil exploration improve the acquisition of limiting soil resources. Here, we test the hypothesis that reduced lateral root branching density will improve drought tolerance in maize (Zea mays) by reducing the metabolic costs of soil exploration, permitting greater axial root elongation, greater rooting depth, and thereby greater water acquisition from drying soil. Maize recombinant inbred lines with contrasting lateral root number and length (few but long [FL] and many but short [MS]) were grown under water stress in greenhouse mesocosms, in field rainout shelters, and in a second field environment with natural drought. Under water stress in mesocosms, lines with the FL phenotype had substantially less lateral root respiration per unit of axial root length, deeper rooting, greater leaf relative water content, greater stomatal conductance, and 50% greater shoot biomass than lines with the MS phenotype. Under water stress in the two field sites, lines with the FL phenotype had deeper rooting, much lighter stem water isotopic signature, signifying deeper water capture, 51% to 67% greater shoot biomass at flowering, and 144% greater yield than lines with the MS phenotype. These results entirely support the hypothesis that reduced lateral root branching density improves drought tolerance. The FL lateral root phenotype merits consideration as a selection target to improve the drought tolerance of maize and possibly other cereal crops.

Characterizing root response phenotypes by neural network analysis.

Roots play an immediate role as the interface for water acquisition. To improve sustainability in low-water environments, breeders of major crops must therefore pay closer attention to advantageous root phenotypes; however, the complexity of root architecture in response to stress can be difficult to quantify. Here, the Sholl method, an established technique from neurobiology used for the characterization of neural network anatomy, was adapted to more adequately describe root responses to osmotic stress. This method was used to investigate the influence of in vitro osmotic stress on early root architecture and distribution in drought-resistant and -susceptible genotypes of winter oilseed rape. Interactive changes in root architecture can be easily captured by individual intersection profiles generated by Sholl analysis. Validation using manual measurements confirmed that the number of lateral roots decreased, while mean lateral root length was enhanced, under osmotic stress conditions. Both genotypes reacted to osmotic stress with a shift in their intersection patterns measured with Sholl analysis. Changes in interactive root architecture and distribution under stress were more pronounced in the drought-resistant genotype, indicating that these changes may contribute to drought resistance under mild osmotic stress conditions. The Sholl methodology is presented as a promising tool for selection of cultivars with advantageous root phenotypes under osmotic stress conditions.

English

The biological effects of humic substances on vegetables depend on the source of extraction and the concentration used, on the vegetable species and on the age of the plant. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different humic acid (HA) doses extracted from vermicompost on the germination and initial growth of Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG5. To that end, germination tests were conducted in germination agents, as well as emergence test in greenhouse and seedlings growth test for those agents. For all these tests, five doses of HA [0.0; 1.0; 2.0; 4.0 e 8.0 mM C.L-1] were used, with and without reapplying HA. The following characteristics were analyzed: percentage of germination, percentage of normal seedlings in the first counting of the germination test, percentage of abnormal seedlings, percentage of non-germinated seedlings, percentage of emergence, emergence speed rates, fresh and dry matter of the upper and roots part, length of the upper and roots part and number of lateral roots. Positive effect of HA reapplication in the percentage of abnormal seedlings was observed. With increasing doses of HA, there was a reduction in the percentage of germination and normal seedlings in the first count. The application of HA promoted increase in shoot length and number of lateral root. There was no significant difference in the length of the root. Humus acid affects positively the initial growth of B. brizantha cv. MG5, with the best stimulation being observed when the 2.0 mM C.L-1 dose was applied.   Key words: Forage, Urochloa sp., vigor.

Reduced frequency of lateral root branching improves N capture from low-N soils in maize.

Suboptimal nitrogen (N) availability is a primary constraint for crop production in developing countries, while in developed countries, intensive N fertilization is a primary economic, energy, and environmental cost for crop production. We tested the hypothesis that under low-N conditions, maize (Zea mays) lines with few but long (FL) lateral roots would have greater axial root elongation, deeper rooting, and greater N acquisition than lines with many but short (MS) lateral roots. Maize recombinant inbred lines contrasting in lateral root number and length were grown with adequate and suboptimal N in greenhouse mesocosms and in the field in the USA and South Africa (SA). In low-N mesocosms, the FL phenotype had substantially reduced root respiration and greater rooting depth than the MS phenotype. In low-N fields in the USA and SA, the FL phenotype had greater rooting depth, shoot N content, leaf photosynthesis, and shoot biomass than the MS phenotype. The FL phenotype yielded 31.5% more than the MS phenotype under low N in the USA. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that sparse but long lateral roots improve N capture from low-N soils. These results with maize probably pertain to other species. The FL lateral root phenotype merits consideration as a selection target for greater crop N efficiency.

The enhanced drought tolerance of rice plants under ammonium is related to aquaporin (AQP)

Previously, we demonstrated that drought resistance in rice seedlings was increased by ammonium (NH4+) treatment, but not by nitrate (NO3−) treatment, and that the change was associated with root development. To study the effects of different forms of nitrogen on water uptake and root growth under drought conditions, we subjected two rice cultivars (cv. ‘Shanyou 63’ hybrid indica and cv. ‘Yangdao 6’ indica, China) to polyethylene glycol-induced drought stress in a glasshouse using hydroponic culture. Under drought conditions, NH4+ significantly stimulated root growth compared to NO3−, as indicated by the root length, surface area, volume, and numbers of lateral roots and root tips. Drought stress decreased the root elongation rate in both cultivars when they were supplied with NO3−, while the rate was unaffected in the presence of NH4+. Drought stress significantly increased root protoplast water permeability, root hydraulic conductivity, and the expression of root aquaporin (AQP) plasma intrinsic protein (PIP) genes in rice plants supplied with NH4+; these changes were not observed in plants supplied with NO3−. Additionally, ethylene, which is involved in the regulation of root growth, accumulated in rice roots supplied with NO3− under conditions of drought stress. We conclude that the increase in AQP expression and/or activity enhanced the root water uptake ability and the drought tolerance of rice plants supplied with NH4+.

Iron- and Ferritin-Dependent Reactive Oxygen Species Distribution: Impact on Arabidopsis Root System Architecture

Iron (Fe) homeostasis is integrated with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and distribution at the root tip participates in the control of root growth. Excess Fe increases ferritin abundance, enabling the storage of Fe, which contributes to protection of plants against Fe-induced oxidative stress. AtFer1 and AtFer3 are the two ferritin genes expressed in the meristematic zone, pericycle and endodermis of the Arabidopsis thaliana root, and it is in these regions that we observe Fe stained dots. This staining disappears in the triple fer1-3-4 ferritin mutant. Fe excess decreases primary root length in the same way in wild-type and in fer1-3-4 mutant. In contrast, the Fe-mediated decrease of lateral root (LR) length and density is enhanced in fer1-3-4 plants due to a defect in LR emergence. We observe that this interaction between excess Fe, ferritin, and root system architecture (RSA) is in part mediated by the H2O2/O2·− balance between the root cell proliferation and differentiation zones regulated by the UPB1 transcription factor. Meristem size is also decreased in response to Fe excess in ferritin mutant plants, implicating cell cycle arrest mediated by the ROS-activated SMR5/SMR7 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors pathway in the interaction between Fe and RSA.

Natural genetic variation of Arabidopsis thaliana root morphological response to magnesium supply

Plants dynamically cope with the variability of mineral nutrient distribution in soil by constantly modulating nutrient uptake and shaping root-system architecture. The changes in root morphology in response to major essential elements are largely documented, but little is known about how the root system responds to magnesium (Mg) availability. Thirty-six natural accessions of the model species Arabidopsis thaliana were subjected to an in vitro screen for identifying variation in root system architecture in response to Mg availability. Response of root morphology was observed on 2-dimensional agar plates. Low Mg supply repressed the elongation of the lateral roots more than of the primary root. However, some accessions exhibited higher number and length of lateral roots than the reference Columbia-0. Across all accessions, the root morphological traits did not correlate with tissue Mg concentrations. Interestingly, shoot calcium and root phosphorus concentrations were positively correlated with the number and length of lateral roots, whereas root iron concentration was negatively correlated with the primary root length. The diversity of root phenotypes identified in this report is a useful resource to study the genetic component determining root morphology in response to Mg availability.

Genetic diversity for root plasticity and nitrogen uptake in wheat seedlings.

Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of wheat is a major focus for wheat breeding programs. NUE may be improved by identifying genotypes that are competitive for nitrogen (N) uptake in early vegetative stages of growth and are able to invest that N in grain. Breeders tend to select high yielding genotypes under conditions of medium to high N supply, but it is not known whether this influences the selection of root plasticity traits or whether, over time, breeders have selected genotypes with higher N uptake efficiency. To address this, genotypes were selected from CIMMYT (1966-1985) and Australian (1999-2007) breeding programs. Genotypes from both programs responded to low N supply by expanding their root surface area through increased total root number and/or length of lateral roots. Australian genotypes were N responsive (accumulated more N under high N than under low N) whereas CIMMYT genotypes were not very N responsive. This could not be explained by differences in N uptake capacity as shown by 15N flux analysis of two representative genotypes with contrasting N accumulation. Expression analysis of nitrate transporter genes revealed that the high-affinity transport system accounted for the majority of root nitrate uptake in wheat seedlings under both low and high N conditions.

The plasma membrane H(+) -ATPase AHA2 contributes to the root architecture in response to different nitrogen supply.

In this study the role of the plasma membrane (PM) H(+) -ATPase for growth and development of roots as response to nitrogen starvation is studied. It is known that root development differs dependent on the availability of different mineral nutrients. It includes processes such as initiation of lateral root primordia, root elongation and increase of the root biomass. However, the signal transduction mechanisms, which enable roots to sense changes in different mineral environments and match their growth and development patterns to actual conditions in the soil, are still unknown. Most recent comments have focused on one of the essential macroelements, namely nitrogen, and its role in the modification of the root architecture of Arabidopsis thaliana. As yet, not all elements of the signal transduction pathway leading to the perception of the nitrate stimulus, and hence to anatomical changes of the root, which allow for adaptation to variable ion concentrations in the soil, are known. Our data demonstrate that primary and lateral root length were shorter and lower in aha2 mutant lines compared with wild-type plants in response to a variable nitrogen source. This suggests that the PM proton pump AHA2 (Arabidopsis plasma membrane H(+) -ATPase isoform 2) is important for root growth and development during different nitrogen regimes. This is possible by controlling the pH homeostasis in the root during growth and development as shown by pH biosensors.

Elevated CO2 Improves Growth and Phosphorus Utilization Efficiency in Cereal Species Under Sub-Optimal Phosphorus Supply

Cultivars of Triticum aestivum, T. durum, and Secale cereale were grown at low (2 μM) and sufficient (500 μM) phosphorus (P) under ambient carbon dioxide (380 μmol mol−1; aCO2) and elevated CO2 (700 μmol mol−1, eCO2) to study responses of cereal species in terms of growth and P utilization efficiency (PUE) under P x CO2 interaction. Dry matter accumulation increased under eCO2 with sufficient P. Nevertheless, dry matter accumulated at eCO2 with low-P was similar to that obtained at aCO2 with sufficient P. Leaf area was 43% higher under eCO2 with sufficient P. Significant increase in lateral root density, length and surface area were noted at low-P under eCO2. Phosphorus use efficience (PUE) increased by 59% in response to eCO2­ in low-P plants. Thus, eCO2 can partly compensate effect of low-P supply because of improved utilization efficiency. Among cereals, durum wheat was more suitable in terms of PUE under high CO2 and limiting P supply.

Calcium and Calmodulin Involve in Mycorrhizal and Root Development in Trifoliate Orange Colonized by <i>Rhizophagus intraradices</i>

A pot experiment was made to study effects of ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA, an inhibitor of Ca2+) and trifluoperazine (TFP, an inhibitor of calmodulin (CaM) on mycorrhizal colonization, growth performance, and chlorophyll, sucrose and glucose concentrations of four-month-old trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings under mycorrhization with Rhizophagus intraradices. Exogenous EGTA and TFP notably inhibited root mycorrhizal colonization, and the addition of EGTA also decreased soil hyphal length. In general, EGTA treatment decreased but TFP increased easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EE-GRSP) and total GRSP (T-GRSP) concentrations. In addition, EGTA and TFP applications generally significantly inhibited growth performance (height, stem diameter, leaf number, and shoot and root biomass), root traits (total length, surface area, volume, and number of 1st, 2nd and 3rd order lateral root), and chlorophyll a,b and a+b concentrations, the mycorrhizal inoculation generally reversed the negative effects and markedly increased these variables, irrespective of whether the seedlings were applied by inhibitors or not. EGTA and TFP treatments generally inhibited sucrose and glucose levels of leaf and root, except that TFP application notably increased root glucose in AM and non-AM seedlings. AMF inoculation resulted in carbohydrate modification: decrease in leaf sucrose, increase in root sucrose and leaf glucose, as well increase in root glucose under no-inhibitor and EGTA conditions and decrease in root glucose under TFP. It suggests that Ca2+ and CaM were involved in mycorrhizal and root development in trifoliate orange.

Calcium and Calmodulin Involve in Mycorrhizal and Root Development in Trifoliate Orange Colonized by <i>Rhizophagus intraradices</i>

A pot experiment was made to study effects of ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA, an inhibitor of Ca2+) and trifluoperazine (TFP, an inhibitor of calmodulin (CaM) on mycorrhizal colonization, growth performance, and chlorophyll, sucrose and glucose concentrations of four-month-old trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings under mycorrhization with Rhizophagus intraradices. Exogenous EGTA and TFP notably inhibited root mycorrhizal colonization, and the addition of EGTA also decreased soil hyphal length. In general, EGTA treatment decreased but TFP increased easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EE-GRSP) and total GRSP (T-GRSP) concentrations. In addition, EGTA and TFP applications generally significantly inhibited growth performance (height, stem diameter, leaf number, and shoot and root biomass), root traits (total length, surface area, volume, and number of 1st, 2nd and 3rd order lateral root), and chlorophyll a,b and a+b concentrations, the mycorrhizal inoculation generally reversed the negative effects and markedly increased these variables, irrespective of whether the seedlings were applied by inhibitors or not. EGTA and TFP treatments generally inhibited sucrose and glucose levels of leaf and root, except that TFP application notably increased root glucose in AM and non-AM seedlings. AMF inoculation resulted in carbohydrate modification: decrease in leaf sucrose, increase in root sucrose and leaf glucose, as well increase in root glucose under no-inhibitor and EGTA conditions and decrease in root glucose under TFP. It suggests that Ca2+ and CaM were involved in mycorrhizal and root development in trifoliate orange.

Iron and ferritin dependent ROS distribution impact Arabidopsis root system architecture.

Iron (Fe) homeostasis is integrated with the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) whose distribution at the root tip participates in the control of root growth. Excess Fe increases ferritin abundance, enabling the storage of Fe which contributes to protection of plants against Fe-induced oxidative stress. AtFer1 and AtFer3 are the two ferritin genes expressed in the meristematic zone, pericycle and endodermis of the Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) root, and it is in these regions that we observe Fe stained dots. This staining disappears in the triple fer1-3-4 ferritin mutant. Fe excess decreases primary root length in the same way in wild-type and in fer1-3-4 mutant. In contrast, the Fe mediated decrease of lateral root (LR) length and density is enhanced in fer1-3-4 plants due to a defect in LR emergence. We observe that this interaction between excess Fe, ferritin and RSA is in part mediated by the H2O2/O2.- balance between the root cell proliferation and differentiation zones regulated by the UPB1 transcription factor. Further, meristem size is also decreased in response to Fe excess in ferritin mutant plants, implicating cell cycle arrest mediated by the ROS-activated SMR5/SMR7 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors pathway in the interaction between Fe and RSA.

A Sinorhizobium meliloti-specific N-acyl homoserine lactone quorum-sensing signal increases nodule numbers in Medicago truncatula independent of autoregulation.

N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) act as quorum sensing signals that regulate cell-density dependent behaviors in many gram-negative bacteria, in particular those important for plant-microbe interactions. AHLs can also be recognized by plants, and this may influence their interactions with bacteria. Here we tested whether the exposure to AHLs affects the nodule-forming symbiosis between legume hosts and rhizobia. We treated roots of the model legume, Medicago truncatula, with a range of AHLs either from its specific symbiont, Sinorhizobium meliloti, or from the potential pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Agrobacterium vitis. We found increased numbers of nodules formed on root systems treated with the S. meliloti-specific AHL, 3-oxo-C14-homoserine lactone, at a concentration of 1 μM, while the other AHLs did not result in significant changes to nodule numbers. We did not find any evidence for altered nodule invasion by the rhizobia. Quantification of flavonoids that could act as nod gene inducers in S. meliloti did not show any correlation with increased nodule numbers. The effects of AHLs were specific for an increase in nodule numbers, but not lateral root numbers or root length. Increased nodule numbers following 3-oxo-C14-homoserine lactone treatment were under control of autoregulation of nodulation and were still observed in the autoregulation mutant, sunn4 (super numeric nodules4). However, increases in nodule numbers by 3-oxo-C14-homoserine lactone were not found in the ethylene-insensitive sickle mutant. A comparison between M. truncatula with M. sativa (alfalfa) and Trifolium repens (white clover) showed that the observed effects of AHLs on nodule numbers were specific to M. truncatula, despite M. sativa nodulating with the same symbiont. We conclude that plant perception of the S. meliloti-specific 3-oxo-C14-homoserine lactone influences nodule numbers in M. truncatula via an ethylene-dependent, but autoregulation-independent mechanism.

A comprehensive analysis of root morphological changes and nitrogen allocation in maize in response to low nitrogen stress.

The plasticity of root architecture is crucial for plants to acclimate to unfavourable environments including low nitrogen (LN) stress. How maize roots coordinate the growth of axile roots and lateral roots (LRs), as well as longitudinal and radial cell behaviours in response to LN stress, remains unclear. Maize plants were cultivated hydroponically under control (4 mm nitrate) and LN (40 μm) conditions. Temporal and spatial samples were taken to analyse changes in the morphology, anatomical structure and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio in the axile root and LRs. LN stress increased axile root elongation, reduced the number of crown roots and decreased LR density and length. LN stress extended cell elongation zones and increased the mature cell length in the roots. LN stress reduced the cell diameter and total area of vessels and increased the amount of aerenchyma, but the number of cell layers in the crown root cortex was unchanged. The C/N ratio was higher in the axile roots than in the LRs. Maize roots acclimate to LN stress by optimizing the anatomical structure and N allocation. As a result, axile root elongation is favoured to efficiently find available N in the soil.

Variation in virus symptom development and root architecture attributes at the onset of storage root initiation in 'beauregard' sweetpotato plants grown with or without nitrogen.

It has been shown that virus infections, often symptomless, significantly limit sweetpotato productivity, especially in regions characterized by low input agricultural systems. In sweetpotatoes, the successful emergence and development of lateral roots (LRs), the main determinant of root architecture, determines the competency of adventitious roots to undergo storage root initiation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of some plant viruses on root architecture attributes during the onset of storage root initiation in ‘Beauregard’ sweetpotatoes that were grown with or without the presence of nitrogen. In two replicate experiments, virus-tested plants consistently failed to show visible symptoms at 20 days regardless of nitrogen treatment. In both experiments, the severity of symptom development among infected plants ranged from 25 to 118% when compared to the controls (virus tested plants grown in the presence of nitrogen). The presence of a complex of viruses (Sweet potato feathery mottle virus, Sweet potato virus G, Sweet potato virus C, and Sweet potato virus 2) was associated with 51% reduction in adventitious root number among plants grown without nitrogen. The effect of virus treatments on first order LR development depended on the presence or absence of nitrogen. In the presence of nitrogen, only plants infected with Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus showed reductions in first order LR length, number, and density, which were decreased by 33%, 12%, and 11%, respectively, when compared to the controls. In the absence of nitrogen, virus tested and infected plants manifested significant reductions for all first order LR attributes. These results provide evidence that virus infection directly influences sweetpotato yield potential by reducing both the number of adventitious roots and LR development. These findings provide a framework for understanding how virus infection reduces sweetpotato yield and could lead to the development of novel strategies to mitigate virus effects on sweetpotato productivity.

QTL mapping and phenotypic variation for root architectural traits in maize (Zea mays L.).

QTL were identified for root architectural traits in maize. Root architectural traits, including the number, length, orientation, and branching of the principal root classes, influence plant function by determining the spatial and temporal domains of soil exploration. To characterize phenotypic patterns and their genetic control, three recombinant inbred populations of maize were grown for 28 days in solid media in a greenhouse and evaluated for 21 root architectural traits, including length, number, diameter, and branching of seminal, primary and nodal roots, dry weight of embryonic and nodal systems, and diameter of the nodal root system. Significant phenotypic variation was observed for all traits. Strong correlations were observed among traits in the same root class, particularly for the length of the main root axis and the length of lateral roots. In a principal component analysis, relationships among traits differed slightly for the three families, though vectors grouped together for traits within a given root class, indicating opportunities for more efficient phenotyping. Allometric analysis showed that trajectories of growth for specific traits differ in the three populations. In total, 15 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified. QTL are reported for length in multiple root classes, diameter and number of seminal roots, and dry weight of the embryonic and nodal root systems. Phenotypic variation explained by individual QTL ranged from 0.44% (number of seminal roots, NyH population) to 13.5% (shoot dry weight, OhW population). Identification of QTL for root architectural traits may be useful for developing genotypes that are better suited to specific soil environments.