Abstract
Abstract Sorghum is an essential crop for resilient and adaptive responses to climate change. The root systems of crop plants significantly contribute to the tolerance of abiotic stresses. There is little information on sorghum genotypes' root systems and plasticity to external P supply. In this paper, we investigated the variations in root systems, as well as the responses, trait relationships, and plasticity of two sorghum genotypes (Naga Red and Naga White), popularly grown in Ghana, to five external P concentrations ([P] ext ): 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg P kg −1 soil. Sorghum plants were grown in greenhouse pots and harvested for root trait measurements at the five‐leaf and growing point differentiation (GPD) developmental stages. The plants were responsive to [P] ext and formed rhizosheaths. The two genotypes showed similar characteristics for most of the traits measured but differed significantly in total and lateral root lengths in favor of the red genotype. For example, at the five‐leaf growth stage, the lateral root length of the red and white genotypes was 22.8 and 16.2 cm, respectively, but 124 and 88.9 cm, at the GPD stage. The responses and plasticity of the root system traits, including rhizosheath, to [P] ext were more prominent, positive, and linear at the five‐leaf stage than at the GPD growth stage. At the five‐leaf growth stage, total root length increased by about 2.5‐fold with increasing [P] ext compared to the unamended soil. At the GPD stage, however, total root length decreased by about 1.83‐fold as [P] ext increased compared to the unamended soil. Specific rhizosheath weight correlated with RHD, albeit weakly, and together explained up to 59% of the variation in tissue P. Root hair density was more responsive to P supply than root hair length and showed a similar total and lateral root length pattern. Most desirable responses to P occurred at a rate of 200–300 mg P kg −1 soil. It is concluded that sorghum would form rhizosheath, and [P] ext could be critical for the early vigorous growth of sorghum's responsive root and shoot traits. Beyond the early days of development, additional P application might be necessary to sustain the responses and plasticity observed during the early growth period, but this requires further investigation, potentially under field conditions.
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Claims 12
Claim · model-written summary
Sorghum plants formed rhizosheaths under external phosphorus supply.
- Outcome
- formed rhizosheathse0
SorghumOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The plants were responsive to [P] ext and formed rhizosheaths.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Naga Red had significantly longer total and lateral roots than Naga White.
- Material
- red genotypee0
- Outcome
- total and lateral root lengthse0
- Direction
- in favor of the red genotypee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The two genotypes showed similar characteristics for most of the traits measured but differed significantly in total and lateral root lengths in favor of the red genotype.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
At five leaves, red and white genotypes had lateral root lengths of 22.8 and 16.2 cm, respectively.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“at the five‐leaf growth stage, the lateral root length of the red and white genotypes was 22.8 and 16.2 cm, respectively”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
At GPD, red and white genotypes had lateral root lengths of 124 and 88.9 cm, respectively.
Not reportedOutcome
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“but 124 and 88.9 cm, at the GPD stage.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Root trait responses to phosphorus were more positive and linear at five leaves than at GPD.
- Organ / stage
- five‐leaf stagee0
- Treatment
- [P] exte0
- Outcome
- responses and plasticity of the root system traits, including rhizosheathe0
- Direction
- more prominent, positive, and lineare0
- Comparator
- GPD growth stagee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The responses and plasticity of the root system traits, including rhizosheath, to [P] ext were more prominent, positive, and linear at the five‐leaf stage than at the GPD growth stage.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
At five leaves, increasing phosphorus raised total root length about 2.5 fold over unamended soil.
- Organ / stage
- five‐leaf growth stagee0
- Treatment
- increasing [P] exte0
- Outcome
- total root lengthe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- about 2.5‐folde0
- Comparator
- unamended soile0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“At the five‐leaf growth stage, total root length increased by about 2.5‐fold with increasing [P] ext compared to the unamended soil.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
At GPD, increasing phosphorus reduced total root length about 1.83 fold against unamended soil.
- Organ / stage
- GPD stagee0
- Treatment
- [P] exte0
- Outcome
- total root lengthe0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Value
- about 1.83‐folde0
- Comparator
- unamended soile0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“At the GPD stage, however, total root length decreased by about 1.83‐fold as [P] ext increased compared to the unamended soil.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Specific rhizosheath weight weakly correlated with root hair density.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Specific rhizosheath weight correlated with RHD, albeit weakly”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Specific rhizosheath weight and RHD explained up to 59% of tissue phosphorus variation.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Specific rhizosheath weight correlated with RHD, albeit weakly, and together explained up to 59% of the variation in tissue P.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Root hair density responded more to phosphorus supply than root hair length.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Root hair density was more responsive to P supply than root hair length”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Root hair density followed the pattern of total and lateral root lengths.
- Organ / stage
- total and lateral root lengthe0
Not reportedOutcomeDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“showed a similar total and lateral root length pattern.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Most desirable responses to phosphorus were at 200–300 mg P per kg soil.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Most desirable responses to P occurred at a rate of 200–300 mg P kg −1 soil.”
t0“sorghum”