Unrevalling phenotypic diversity of root system architecture in ancient wheat species versus modern wheat cultivars

Understanding the phenotypic variability in root system architecture and root-shoot relationships across different growth stages of wheat is of utmost importance for the improvement of genotypes with enhanced nutrient uptake and resource-use efficiency. This study focused on identifying variations and relationships in the root and shoot characteristics of seven modern cultivars and twelve ancient wheat accessions of different species, including T. monococcum, T. turanicum, T. polonicum, T. mirabile, T. durum, and T. aestivum, during the early vegetative growth and stem elongation stages. The results demonstrated significant phenotypic variation among the genotypes for shoot traits, root biomass, rooting depth, R/S ratio, and seminal and nodal root numbers. When considering both growth stages, the dry land-adapted cultivar ‘Taner’ and ancient wheat species, such as T. turanicum (2) and T. monococcum (1) accessions, exhibited deeper roots, which can enhance access to water in drought-prone areas. Furthermore, it was observed that modern wheat cultivars and T. turanicum accessions exhibited increased root biomass, suggesting a higher allocation of resources towards root growth, which could potentially enhance nutrient uptake. Conversely, T. monococcum accessions and T. mirabile revealed lower root biomass compared to other ancient species and modern cultivars. Additionally, the unrooted cluster analysis based on root biomass, rooting depth, and root to shoot ratio at both growth stages indicated a distinct separation of T. monococcum accessions and T. mirabile from other genotypes. Overall, these findings underscore the importance of phenotypic diversity in root traits for crop improvement and adaptation to varying environments. Identifying genotypes with desirable root characteristics can enhance nutrient and water uptake efficiencies, leading to increased crop productivity and sustainability.