Contributions of roots and rootstocks to sustainable, intensified crop production

Gregory, P. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4118-4833, Atkinson, C. J., Bengough, A. G., Else, M. A., Fernández-Fernández, F., Harrison, R. J. and Schmidt, S. (2013) Contributions of roots and rootstocks to sustainable, intensified crop production. Journal of Experimental Botany, 64 (5). pp. 1209-1222. ISSN 0022-0957 doi: 10.1093/jxb/ers385

Abstract/Summary

Sustainable intensification is seen as the main route for meeting the world’s increasing demands for food and fibre. As demands mount for greater efficiency in the use of resources to achieve this goal, so the focus on roots and rootstocks and their role in acquiring water and nutrients, and overcoming pests and pathogens, is increasing. The purpose of this review is to explore some of the ways in which understanding root systems and their interactions with soils could contribute to the development of more sustainable systems of intensive production. Physical interactions with soil particles limit root growth if soils are dense, but root–soil contact is essential for optimal growth and uptake of water and nutrients. X-ray microtomography demonstrated that maize roots elongated more rapidly with increasing root–soil contact, as long as mechanical impedance was not limiting root elongation, while lupin was less sensitive to changes in root–soil contact. In addition to selecting for root architecture and rhizosphere properties, the growth of many plants in cultivated systems is profoundly affected by selection of an appropriate rootstock. Several mechanisms for scion control by rootstocks have been suggested, but the causal signals are still uncertain and may differ between crop species. Linkage map locations for quantitative trait loci for disease resistance and other traits of interest in rootstock breeding are becoming available. Designing root systems and rootstocks for specific environments is becoming a feasible target.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/31996
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Centre for Food Security Life Sciences > School of Agriculture, Policy and Development > Department of Crop Science Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Soil Research Centre
Uncontrolled Keywords	Biopores QTL resource use root distribution rootstock root–shoot communication root–soil contact root systems.
Publisher	Oxford University Press
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