[O44] Root Genetics and Breeding

[O44-02] Phenotyping and Modelling Root Trait Variability in Crop Species

(Invited Speaker)

^○Yinglong Chen^{1, 2}, Kadambot Siddique¹ (1.The UWA Institute of Agriculture & School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Australia, 2.Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, China)

Understanding root system architecture (RSA) in crop species is critical for identifying root traits for breeding cultivars with improved resource uptake and better adaptation to adverse environments. Crop root systems are often poorly adapted to soils with the major limiting factors being poor soil water holding capacity and nutrient deficiencies in many farmland. RSA significantly influences crop foraging and capturing soil water and nutrients and thus determines crop productivity. Wide-scale use of root-related genetic information in crop breeding programs relies on accurate phenotyping of relatively large populations. Recently we developed a semi-hydroponic phenotyping system for high-throughput phenotyping of root trait variability in substantial collections of several important crops, including narrow-leafed lupin, barley, chickpea, wheat, maize and soybean. The utility of this phenotyping system in gathering the data for parameterising the simulation models of root architecture enables model simulations. The development of root phenotyping, imaging and modelling technologies in studying RSA under edaphic stress provide assistance in selecting future crop genotypes with efficient root system for enhanced abiotic stress tolerance and improved crop adaptation.