Journal
PLANT AND SOIL
Volume 374, Issue 1-2, Pages 121-130Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s11104-013-1872-0
Keywords
Maize (Zea Mays L.); Root architecture; N uptake efficiency; Breeding
Categories
Funding
- National Basic Research Program (973 Program) of China [2009CB11860, 2011CB100305]
- National Science Foundation of China [31071852, 31121062]
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Modern maize breeding has increased maize yields worldwide. The changes in above-ground traits accompanying yield improvement are well-known, but less information is available as to the effect of modern plant breeding on changes in maize root traits. Root growth, nitrogen uptake, dry matter accumulation and yield formation of six maize hybrids released from 1973 to 2000 in China were compared. Experiments were conducted under low and high nitrogen supply in a black soil in Northeast China in 2010 and 2011. While nitrogen accumulation, dry matter production and yield formation have been increased, modern maize breeding in China since 1990 has reduced root length density in the topsoil without much effect on root growth in the deeper soil. The efficiency of roots in acquiring N has increased so as to match the requirement of N accumulation for plant growth and yield formation. The responses of root growth, nitrogen and dry matter accumulation, and grain yield to low-N stress were similar in the more modern hybrids as in the older ones. Modern maize breeding has constitutively changed root and shoot growth and plant productivity without producing any specific enhancement in root responsiveness to soil N availability.
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