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Root hair phenotypes influence nitrogen acquisition in maize
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The utility of root hairs for nitrogen (N) acquisition is poorly understood. METHODS: We explored the utility of root hairs for N acquisition in the functional–structural model SimRoot and with maize genotypes with variable root hair length (RHL) in greenhouse and field environm...
Autores principales: | , , , , , |
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Formato: | Online Artículo Texto |
Lenguaje: | English |
Publicado: |
Oxford University Press
2021
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Materias: | |
Acceso en línea: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8577201/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34355736 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcab104 |
Sumario: | BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The utility of root hairs for nitrogen (N) acquisition is poorly understood. METHODS: We explored the utility of root hairs for N acquisition in the functional–structural model SimRoot and with maize genotypes with variable root hair length (RHL) in greenhouse and field environments. KEY RESULTS: Simulation results indicate that long, dense root hairs can improve N acquisition under varying N availability. In the greenhouse, ammonium availability had no effect on RHL and low nitrate availability increased RHL, while in the field low N reduced RHL. Longer RHL was associated with 216 % increase in biomass and 237 % increase in plant N content under low-N conditions in the greenhouse and a 250 % increase in biomass and 200 % increase in plant N content in the field compared with short-RHL phenotypes. In a low-N field environment, genotypes with long RHL had 267 % greater yield than those with short RHL. We speculate that long root hairs improve N capture by increased root surface area and expanded soil exploration beyond the N depletion zone surrounding the root surface. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that root hairs play an important role in N acquisition. We suggest that root hairs merit consideration as a breeding target for improved N acquisition in maize and other crops. |
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