Root hairs improve root penetration, root-soil contact, and phosphorus acquisition in soils of different strength

Title
Root hairs improve root penetration, root-soil contact, and phosphorus acquisition in soils of different strength
Publication Date
2013
Author(s)
Haling, Rebecca
Brown, Lawrie K
Bengough, A Glyn
Young, Iain
Hallett, Paul D
White, Philip J
George, Timothy S
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Place of publication
United Kingdom
DOI
10.1093/jxb/ert200
UNE publication id
une:15905
Abstract
Root hairs are a key trait for improving the acquisition of phosphorus (P) by plants. However, it is not known whether root hairs provide significant advantage for plant growth under combined soil stresses, particularly under conditions that are known to restrict root hair initiation or elongation (e.g. compacted or high-strength soils). To investigate this, the root growth and P uptake of root hair genotypes of barley, 'Hordeum vulgare' L. (i.e. genotypes with and without root hairs), were assessed under combinations of P deficiency and high soil strength. Genotypes with root hairs were found to have an advantage for root penetration into high-strength layers relative to root hairless genotypes. In P-deficient soils, despite a 20% reduction in root hair length under high-strength conditions, genotypes with root hairs were also found to have an advantage for P uptake. However, in fertilized soils, root hairs conferred an advantage for P uptake in low-strength soil but not in high-strength soil. Improved root-soil contact, coupled with an increased supply of P to the root, may decrease the value of root hairs for P acquisition in high-strength, high-P soils. Nevertheless, this work demonstrates that root hairs are a valuable trait for plant growth and nutrient acquisition under combined soil stresses. Selecting plants with superior root hair traits is important for improving P uptake efficiency and hence the sustainability of agricultural systems.
Link
Citation
Journal of Experimental Botany, 64(12), p. 3711-3721
ISSN
1460-2431
0022-0957
Start page
3711
End page
3721

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