Abstract
Low phosphorus (P) bioavailability in the soil and concerns over global P reserves have emphasized the need to cultivate plants that acquire and use P efficiently. Root architecture adaptation to low P can be variable depending on species or even genotypes. To assess the genetic variability of root architectural traits and their responses to low P in the Lactuca genus, we examined fourteen genotypes including wild species, ancient and commercial lettuce cultivars at low (LP, 0.1 mmol. L –1 ) and high P (HP, 1 mmol. L –1 ). Plants were grown in cylindrical pots adapted for the excavation and observation of root systems, with an inert substrate. We identified substantial genetic variation in all the investigated root traits, as well as an effect of P availability on these traits, except on the diameter of thinner roots. At low P, the main responses were a decrease in taproot diameter, an increase in taproot dominance over its laterals and an increase in the inter-branch distance. Although the genotype x P treatment effect was limited to root depth, we identified a tradeoff between the capacity to maintain a thick taproot at low P and the dominance of the taproot over its laterals. Regardless of the P level, the phosphorus-use-efficiency (PUE) varied among lettuce genotypes and was significantly correlated with total root biomass regardless of the P level. As taproot depth and maximum apical diameter were the principal determinants of total root biomass, the relative increase in PUE at low P was observed in genotypes that showed the thickest apical diameters and/or those whose maximal apical diameter was not severely decreased at low P availability. This pre-eminence of the taproot in the adaptation of Lactuca genotypes to low P contrasts with other species which rely more on lateral roots to adapt to P stress.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Root traits varied substantially among genotypes.
- Outcome
- genetic variation in all the investigated root traitse0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“We identified substantial genetic variation in all the investigated root traits, as well as an effect of P availability on these traits, except on the diameter of thinner roots.”
Claim · model-written summary
P availability affected root traits except thinner-root diameter.
Not reportedTaxonDirection
Verbatim
e0“We identified substantial genetic variation in all the investigated root traits, as well as an effect of P availability on these traits, except on the diameter of thinner roots.”
Claim · model-written summary
Low P decreased taproot diameter.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“At low P, the main responses were a decrease in taproot diameter, an increase in taproot dominance over its laterals and an increase in the inter-branch distance.”
Claim · model-written summary
Low P increased taproot dominance over laterals.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“At low P, the main responses were a decrease in taproot diameter, an increase in taproot dominance over its laterals and an increase in the inter-branch distance.”
Claim · model-written summary
Low P increased inter-branch distance.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“At low P, the main responses were a decrease in taproot diameter, an increase in taproot dominance over its laterals and an increase in the inter-branch distance.”
Claim · model-written summary
Genotype-by-P treatment effect was limited to root depth.
Not reportedTaxonDirection
Verbatim
e0“Although the genotype x P treatment effect was limited to root depth, we identified a tradeoff between the capacity to maintain a thick taproot at low P and the dominance of the taproot over its laterals.”
Claim · model-written summary
Taproot thickness maintenance traded off with taproot dominance.
Not reportedTaxonDirection
Verbatim
e0“we identified a tradeoff between the capacity to maintain a thick taproot at low P and the dominance of the taproot over its laterals.”
Claim · model-written summary
PUE varied among lettuce genotypes at both P levels.
- Taxon
- lettuce
Lactuca sativae0 - Material
- genotypese0
- Outcome
- phosphorus-use-efficiency (PUE)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Regardless of the P level, the phosphorus-use-efficiency (PUE) varied among lettuce genotypes and was significantly correlated with total root biomass regardless of the P level.”
Claim · model-written summary
PUE was significantly correlated with total root biomass.
- Taxon
- lettuceLactuca sativae0
- Organ / stage
- total root biomasse0
- Outcome
- phosphorus-use-efficiency (PUE)e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Regardless of the P level, the phosphorus-use-efficiency (PUE) varied among lettuce genotypes and was significantly correlated with total root biomass regardless of the P level.”
Claim · model-written summary
Taproot depth and maximal apical diameter were the principal determinants of total root biomass.
Not reportedTaxonDirection
Verbatim
e0“As taproot depth and maximum apical diameter were the principal determinants of total root biomass”
Claim · model-written summary
At low P, relative PUE increased in genotypes with thick or maintained apical diameter.
- Material
- genotypese0
- Treatment
- low Pe0
- Outcome
- PUEe0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Qualifier
- thickest apical diameters and/or those whose maximal apical diameter was not severely decreasede0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“the relative increase in PUE at low P was observed in genotypes that showed the thickest apical diameters and/or those whose maximal apical diameter was not severely decreased at low P availability.”
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phosphorus · growth · Lactuca sativa (garden lettuce)Positive and negative results
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