How changing root system architecture can help tackle a reduction in soil phosphate (P) levels for better plant P acquisition.
The readily available global rock phosphate (P) reserves may run out within the next 50-130 years, causing soils to have a reduced P concentration which will affect plant P uptake. Using a combination of mathematical modelling and experimental data, we investigated potential plant-based options for optimizing crop P uptake in reduced soil P environments. By varying the P concentration within a well-mixed agricultural soil, for high and low P (35.5-12.5 mg L(-1) respectively using Olsen's P index), we investigated branching distributions within a wheat root system that maximize P uptake. Changing the root branching distribution from linear (evenly spaced branches) to strongly exponential (a greater number of branches at the top of the soil) improves P uptake by 142% for low-P soils when root mass is kept constant between simulations. This causes the roots to emerge earlier and mimics topsoil foraging. Manipulating root branching patterns, to maximize P uptake, is not enough on its own to overcome the drop in soil P from high to low P. Further mechanisms have to be considered to fully understand the impact of P reduction on plant development.
['Heppell|J|J|', 'Talboys|P|P|', 'Payvandi|S|S|', 'Zygalakis|K C|KC|', 'Fliege|J|J|', 'Withers|P J A|PJ|', 'Jones|D L|DL|', 'Roose|T|T|']
D001692:Biological Transport D008954:Models, Biological D008962:Models, Theoretical D010710:Phosphates D018517:Plant Roots D058441:Rhizosphere D012987:Soil D014908:Triticum
modelling Triticum aestivum plant nutrient uptake rhizosphere root architecture