Relationships between root diameter, root length and root branching along lateral roots in adult, field-grown maize.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Root diameter, especially apical diameter, plays an important role in root development and function. The variation in diameter between roots, and along roots, affects root structure and thus the root system's overall foraging performance. However, the effect of diameter variation on root elongation, branching and topological connections has not been examined systematically in a population of high-order roots, nor along the roots, especially for mature plants grown in the field.

Methods

A method combining both excavation and analysis was applied to extract and quantify root architectural traits of adult, field-grown maize plants. The relationships between root diameter and other root architectural characteristics are analysed for two maize cultivars.

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SUBMITTER: Wu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4765541 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature