Winter wheat phenotyping for deep root growth and function, reduced water stress and increased uptake of deep N and water.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Deep roots may help plants adapt to climate change by allowing them to access deeper soil layers where water is still available, reducing water stress and increasing nitrogen (N) uptake. Water stress significantly affects yield during later developmental stages, but methods are lacking for phenotyping for deep rooting under field conditions and at maturity.

Methods

Over 3 years, we used minirhizotron root imaging in the RadiMax semi-field facility to compare deep rooting in winter wheat genotypes grown in field soil to 2.7 m depth. We related this to deep soil uptake of water and N using isotopic tracers injected into the soil at 1.6-1.8 m depth. Carbon isotope discrimination was used to evaluate water stress levels.

Key results

Deep rooting was po

SUBMITTER: Odone A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12682833 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature