Phenotyping and Modelling Root System Architecture in Crops

Crop root systems are often poorly adapted to soils with the major limiting factors being poor soil water holding capacity and nutrient deficiencies in many farmland. Changes in RSA may mediate plant adaptation to soils low in nutrient availability. Root system architecture (RSA) significantly influences crop foraging and capturing soil water and nutrients and thus determines crop productivity. Wide-scale use of root-related genetic information in crop breeding programs relies on accurate phenotyping of relatively large populations. However, phenotyping of root-related traits remain the most important challenge in translating physiological and genetic advances in understanding the role of root systems in improved adaptation to abiotic stress and enhanced productivity. Recently we developed a semi-hydroponic phenotyping system for high-throughput phenotyping of root trait variability in substantial collections of several important crops, including narrow-leafed lupin, barley, chickpea, wheat and maize. The utility of this phenotyping system in gathering the data for parameterising the simulation models of root architecture enables model simulations. The development of root phenotyping, imaging and modelling technologies in studying RSA under edaphic stress provide assistance in selecting future crop genotypes with efficient root system for enhanced abiotic stress tolerance and improved crop adaptation.