Dwarf alleles differentially affect barley root traits influencing nitrogen acquisition under low nutrient supply

• Published in: Journal of experimental botany Vol. 62; no. 11; pp. 3917 - 3927
• Main Authors: Karley, A. J., Valentine, T. A., Squire, G. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.07.2011
• Subjects: Barley; Biological and medical sciences; Crop harvesting; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Genotypes; Hordeum - genetics; Hordeum - growth & development; Hordeum - metabolism; Nitrogen - metabolism; Nutrient nutrient interactions; Nutrient uptake; Nutrient use efficiency; Phenotypic traits; Plant nutrition; Plant physiology and development; Plant roots; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plant Roots - metabolism; Plants; RESEARCH PAPER; Research Papers; trait; nitrogen use efficiency; semi-dwarf barley; uptake; remobilization; root; Barley; Monocotyledones; Hordeum vulgare; Root; Nutrient recovery; Nitrogen; Cereal crop; Dwarfism; Allele; Absorption; Gramineae; Remobilization; Angiospermae; Botany; Nutrient; Spermatophyta; ari.e-GP; sdw1
• ISSN: 0022-0957; 1460-2431; 1460-2431
• DOI: 10.1093/jxb/err089

Sustainable food production depends critically on the development of crop genotypes that exhibit high yield under reduced nutrient inputs. Rooting traits have been widely advocated as being able to influence optimal plant performance, while breeding-based improvements in yield of spring barley suggest that this species is a good model crop. To date, however, molecular genetics knowledge has not delivered realistic plant ideotypes, while agronomic trials have been unable to identify superior traits. This study explores an intermediate experimental system in which root traits and their effect on plant performance can be quantified. As a test case, four modern semi-dwarf barley varieties, which possess either the ari-e.GP or the sdw1 dwarf allele, were compared with the long-stemmed old variety Kenia under two levels of nutrient supply. The two semi-dwarf types differed from Kenia, exhibiting smaller stem mass and total plant nitrogen (N), and improved partitioning of mass and N to grain. Amongst the semi-dwarfs, the two ari-e.GP genotypes performed better than the two sdw1 genotypes under standard and reduced nutrient supply, particularly in root mass, root investment efficiency, N acquisition, and remobilization of N and mass to grain. However, lack of between-genotype variation in yield and N use efficiency indicated limited potential for exploiting genetic variation in existing varieties to improve barley performance under reduced nutrient inputs. Experimental approaches to test the expression of desirable root and shoot traits are scrutinized, and the potential evaluated for developing a spring barley ideotype for low nutrient conditions.