Authors
Fenta B, SE Beebe, K Kunert, J Burridge, K Barlow, JP Lynch, C Foyer
Source
Agronomy (2014), Vol 4 Issue 3
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Abstract
Root architecture was determined together with shoot parameters under well watered and drought conditions in the field in three soybean cultivars (A5409RG, Jackson and Prima 2000). Morphology parameters were used to classify the cultivars into different root phenotypes that could be important in conferring drought tolerance traits. A5409RG is a drought-sensitive cultivar with a shallow root phenotype and a root angle of <400. In contrast, Jackson that is a drought-escaping cultivar. It has a deep rooting phenotype with a root angle of >600. Prima 2000 is an intermediate drought-tolerant cultivar with a root angle of 40-600. It has an intermediate root phenotype. Prima 2000 was the best performing cultivar under drought stress, having the greatest shoot biomass and grain yield under limiting water availability. It had abundant root nodules even under drought conditions. A positive correlation was observed between nodule size, above-ground biomass and seed yield under well-watered and drought conditions. These findings demonstrate that root system phenotying using markers that are easy-to-apply under field conditions can be used to determine genotypic differences in drought tolerance in soybean. The strong association between root and nodule parameters and whole plant productivity demonstrates the potential application of simple root phenotypic markers in screening for drought-tolerance in soybean.
Keywords: soybean roots;soybean nodules; chlorophyll; seed yield; drought tolerance; Glycine max
