Reduced Lateral Root Branching Density Improves Drought Tolerance in Maize

• Published in: Plant physiology (Bethesda) Vol. 168; no. 4; pp. 1603 - 1615
• Main Authors: Zhan, Ai, Schneider, Hannah, Lynch, Jonathan P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society of Plant Biologists 01.08.2015
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological - genetics; Adaptation, Physiological - physiology; Agricultural soils; Biomass; Branching; Corn; Crops, Agricultural - physiology; Droughts; ECOPHYSIOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY; Ecosystem; Environment, Controlled; Flowers - genetics; Flowers - physiology; Genotype; Genotypes; Phenotype; Phenotypes; Plant Leaves - genetics; Plant Leaves - physiology; Plant Physiological Phenomena - physiology; Plant roots; Plant Roots - genetics; Plant Roots - physiology; Plant Stems - genetics; Plant Stems - physiology; Plant Stomata - genetics; Plant Stomata - physiology; Plants; Soil - chemistry; Soil depth; Soil resources; Soil water; Water - metabolism; Zea mays - genetics; Zea mays - physiology

An emerging paradigm is that root traits that reduce the metabolic costs of soil exploration improve the acquisition of limiting soil resources. Here, we test the hypothesis that reduced lateral root branching density will improve drought tolerance in maize (Zea mays) by reducing the metabolic costs...