ISSN:
1573-5036
Keywords:
branching
;
growth
;
lateral roots
;
maize
;
root morphology
;
Zea mays L.
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Abstract The architecture of the root system is related to its water and mineral uptake. In this paper, the number, growth, and branching of first-order lateral roots are studied on field grown maize (early maturing cultivar ‘Dea’), mainly in relation to the depth and to the rank of the bearing phytomer. The soil was a deep clay loam, without any barrier until 1.80 m. The branching density was studied along axile roots until 1.40 m from the base, on a sample of individually excavated axile roots. A strong gradient of density was shown: the mean branching density decreased from 12 roots.cm−1 near the base to 4 roots.cm−1 at a 60 cm depth. Seminal roots were less densely branched than nodal roots. The mean difference was about 4 roots.cm−1. The length and branching density of lateral roots were studied on mature parts of the root systems where the growth and branching of the laterals were completed, using samples extracted from large soil monoliths. The length distribution of lateral roots was highly asymmetrical, for every source phytomer (mean: 25 mm; median: 16 mm). Many lateral roots were very short, and only 2 % reached a length higher than 10 cm. Only 29 % of all the laterals bore second-order lateral roots. Vigorous laterals branched more systematically and more profusely: the branching density varied from 2 to 5 roots.cm−1 according to the length of the mother lateral root. Both the number and length of lateral roots appeared to be affected by the soil bulk density which varied with the depth.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00010068
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