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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 35(11)

Evidence from near-isogenic lines that root penetration increases with root diameter and bending stiffness in rice

Lawrence John Clark A , Adam Huw Price B , Katherine A. Steele C and William Richard Whalley A D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, UK.

B Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK.

C CAZS Natural Resources, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK.

D Corresponding author. Email: richard.whalley@bbsrc.ac.uk

Functional Plant Biology 35(11) 1163-1171 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP08132
Submitted: 16 April 2008  Accepted: 16 August 2008   Published: 28 November 2008

Abstract

Deep rooting can be inhibited by strong layers, although there is evidence for species and cultivar (cv.) differences in their penetration ability. Here, the availability of near-isogenic lines (NILs) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) was exploited to test the hypothesis that increased root diameter is associated with greater root bending stiffness, which leads to greater root penetration of strong layers. Wax/petrolatum discs (80% strong wax) were used as the strong layer, so that strength can be manipulated independently of water status. It was found that good root penetration was consistently associated with greater root diameter and bending stiffness, whether comparisons were made between cvs or between NILs. With NILs, this effect was seen with ‘research’ lines bred from recombinant inbred lines of a cross between cvs Bala and Azucena and also in improved lines developed from cv. Kalinga III by introgression of parts of the genome from Azucena. Much of the bending behaviour of roots could be explained by treating them as a simple cylinder of material. In both wax disc and sand culture systems, roots that had encountered a strong layer had lower bending stiffness than roots that had not encountered a strong layer which is a novel result and not previously reported.

Additional keywords: physiological response, rice roots, soil strength.


Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) of the United Kingdom under grant BB/C507837/1. The development of RINILs was funded by BBSRC under grant P11790. The Kalinga III RILs are an output from projects (Plant Sciences Research Program R7434 and R8200) funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). We thank Mr R. P. White of Rothamsted Research for statistical advice.


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