Development of a model estimating root length density from root impacts on a soil profile in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br). Application to measure root system response to water stress in field conditions

Pearl millet is able to withstand dry and hot conditions and plays an important role for food security in arid and semi-arid areas of Africa and India. However, low soil fertility and drought constrain pearl millet yield. One target to address these constraints through agricultural practices or bree...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2019, Vol.14 (7), p.e0214182-e0214182
Main Authors: Faye, Awa, Sine, Bassirou, Chopart, Jean-Louis, Grondin, Alexandre, Lucas, Mikael, Diedhiou, Abdala Gamby, Gantet, Pascal, Cournac, Laurent, Min, Doohong, Audebert, Alain, Kane, Aboubacry, Laplaze, Laurent
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation
Agricultural management
Agricultural practices
Agricultural production
Agriculture
Arid regions
Biology and Life Sciences
Breeding
Cereals
Climate change
Computer architecture
Density
Drought
Droughts
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Environmental factors
Environmental impact
Environmental management
Food security
Life Sciences
Millet
Models, Biological
Parameter identification
Pennisetum - anatomy & histology
Pennisetum - physiology
Pennisetum glaucum
People and Places
Phenotypes
Plant Roots - anatomy & histology
Plant Roots - physiology
Planting density
Potash
Roots
Semi arid areas
Soil - chemistry
Soil depth
Soil fertility
Soil layers
Soil profiles
Soil properties
Stress, Physiological
Vegetal Biology
Water - metabolism
Water shortages
Water stress
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Summary:Pearl millet is able to withstand dry and hot conditions and plays an important role for food security in arid and semi-arid areas of Africa and India. However, low soil fertility and drought constrain pearl millet yield. One target to address these constraints through agricultural practices or breeding is root system architecture. In this study, in order to easily phenotype the root system in field conditions, we developed a model to predict root length density (RLD) of pearl millet plants from root intersection densities (RID) counted on a trench profile in field conditions. We identified root orientation as an important parameter to improve the relationship between RID and RLD. Root orientation was notably found to depend on soil depth and to differ between thick roots (more anisotropic with depth) and fine roots (isotropic at all depths). We used our model to study pearl millet root system response to drought and showed that pearl millet reorients its root growth toward deeper soil layers that retain more water in these conditions. Overall, this model opens ways for the characterization of the impact of environmental factors and management practices on pearl millet root system development.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0214182