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Acta Agron Sin ›› 2015, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (04): 613-622.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1006.2015.00613

• TILLAGE & CULTIVATION · PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Genetic Improvement of Root Growth and Its Relationship with Grain Yield of Wheat Cultivars in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River

TIAN Zhong-Wei,FAN Yong-Hui,YIN Mei,WANG Fang-Rui,CAI Jian,JIANG Dong,DAI Ting-Bo*   

  1. Agronomy College of Nanjing Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology Ecology and Production Management of Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China
  • Received:2014-09-09 Revised:2015-02-06 Online:2015-04-12 Published:2015-03-02
  • Contact: 戴廷波, E-mail: tingbod@njau.edu.cn, Tel: 025-84395033 E-mail:zhwtian@njau.edu.cn

Abstract:

Exploring the characteristics of root growth, root physiology and their relationships to grain yield in wheat cultivars released in different decades will facilitate the development of new wheat cultivars, with stable and high yields and low nitrogen fertilizer input. Four wheat cultivars Nanda 2419, Yangmai 1, Yangmai 158, and Yangmai 16, which were bred or widely planted in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Basin after 1950, were used in field and pot experiments in 2010–2011 with three nitrogen rates (pure N 0, 225, and 300 kg ha-1). The results showed that, grain yield was improved with the genetic improvement in wheat breeding and the sensitivity of modern cultivars to N was greater as compared with early released cultivars. The root dry matter accumulation (DMA) and growth rate from jointing to anthesis of modern cultivars were higher than these of early released cultivars. The root length, root surface area, root volume and density of root weight in 0–60 cm soil layer were enhanced with the genetic improvement in wheat breeding, while no change was found in proportion of root distribution. The root activity, MDA concentration and SOD activity in modern cultivars were improved significantly. Higher N application increased root growth and physiological performance, with larger effects in modern cultivars, indicating that the response to N and high-N tolerance were promoted with genetic improvement in wheat breeding. In addition, these were significantly positive relations of grain yield with total root length, root surface area, root biomass and density of root weight in 0–60 cm soil layer. Therefore, higher contact area of the roots with soil and high-N adaptability, enhanced root physiological activity and N assimilation capacity, and delayed senescence of root system should be the important characteristics in cultivar evolution in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River,which are the main purpose getting in high-yield and high efficiency cultivation in this region.

Key words: Wheat, Genetic improvement, Root morphology, Grain yield, Nitrogen response

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