Journal Article

Evaluation of drought-tolerant varieties based on root system architecture in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Guo, Congcong, Zhang, Yongjiang, Zhang, Ke, Han, Qiucheng, Bai, Zhiying, Zhu, Jijie, Liu, Liantao, Sun, Hongchun, Li, Anchang, Li, Cundong, Zhu, Lingxiao, Wang, Shijie

2024

Overview

Background Root system architecture (RSA) exhibits significant genetic variability and is closely associated with drought tolerance. However, the evaluation of drought-tolerant cotton cultivars based on RSA in the field conditions is still underexplored. Results So, this study conducted a comprehensive analysis of drought tolerance based on physiological and morphological traits (i.e., aboveground and RSA, and yield) within a rain-out shelter, with two water treatments: well-watered (75 ± 5% soil relative water content) and drought stress (50 ± 5% soil relative water content). The results showed that principal component analysis identified six principal components, including highlighting the importance of root traits and canopy parameters in influencing drought tolerance. Moreover, the systematic cluster analysis was used to classify 80 cultivars into 5 categories, including drought-tolerant cultivars, relatively drought-tolerant cultivars, intermediate cultivars, relatively drought-sensitive cultivars, and drought-sensitive cultivars. Further validation of the drought tolerance index showed that the yield drought tolerance index and biomass drought tolerance index of the drought-tolerant cultivars were 8.97 and 5.05 times higher than those of the drought-sensitive cultivars, respectively. Conclusions The RSA of drought-tolerant cultivars was characterised by a significant increase in average length-all lateral roots, a significant decrease in average lateral root emergence angle and a moderate root/shoot ratio. In contrast, the drought-sensitive cultivars showed a significant decrease in average length-all lateral roots and a significant increase in both average lateral root emergence angle and root/shoot ratio. It is therefore more comprehensive and accurate to assess field crop drought tolerance by considering root performance.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Abiotic stress tolerance in plants / Agriculture / Analysis / biomass / Biomedical and Life Sciences / canopy / China / Cluster analysis / Correlation analysis / Cotton / Cultivars / Drought / Drought resistance / drought tolerance / Drought tolerance index / Droughts / Evaluation / field crops / Genetic variability / genetic variation / Gossypium - genetics / Gossypium hirsutum / Greenhouse gases / Influence / lateral roots / Life Sciences / Moisture content / Phenotype / Physiological aspects / Plant Sciences / Principal component analysis / Principal components analysis / Purification / root systems / Root traits / Roots / Signal transduction / Soil / Soil stresses / Soil water / Soils / Tree Biology / Water / Water content / water stress / Water treatment