1. Reduced tillering and dwarfing genes alter root traits and rhizo-economics in wheat.
- Author
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Li X, He D, White RG, Delhaize E, Ryan PR, Ingvordsen CH, Scafaro AP, Atkin OK, Wasson A, and Richards R
- Subjects
- Plant Shoots genetics, Plant Shoots growth & development, Genes, Plant genetics, Biomass, Triticum genetics, Triticum growth & development, Triticum physiology, Triticum metabolism, Plant Roots genetics, Plant Roots growth & development, Plant Roots anatomy & histology, Plant Roots metabolism, Phenotype
- Abstract
The tiller inhibition (tin) and Reduced height (Rht) genes strongly influence the carbon partitioning and architecture of wheat shoots, but their effects on the energy economy of roots have not been examined in detail. We examined multiple root traits in three sets of near-isogenic wheat lines (NILs) that differ in the tin gene or various dwarfing gene alleles (Rht-B1b, Rht-D1b, Rht-B1c and Rht-B1b + Rht-D1b) to determine their effects on root structure, anatomy and carbon allocation. The tin gene resulted in fewer tillers but more costly roots in an extreme tin phenotype with a Banks genetic background due to increases in root-to-shoot ratio, total root length, and whole root respiration. However, this effect depended on the genetic background as tin caused both smaller shoots and roots in a different genetic background. The semi-dwarf gene Rht-B1b caused few changes to the root structure, whereas Rht-D1b, Rht-B1c and the double dwarf (Rht-B1b + Rht-D1b) decreased the root biomass. Rht-B1c reduced the energy cost of roots by increasing specific root length, increasing the volume of cortical aerenchyma and by reducing root length, number, and biomass without affecting the root-to-shoot ratio. This work informs researchers using tin and Rht genes how to modify root system architecture to suit specific environments., (© 2024 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and The Author(s). Physiologia Plantarum published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.)
- Published
- 2024
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