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Phenotypic variability and modelling of root structure of wild Lupinus angustifolius genotypes

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Abstract

Background and aims

Root plasticity in response to the edaphic environment represents a challenge in the quantification of phenotypic variation in crop germplasm. The aim of this study was to use various growth systems to assess phenotypic variation among wild genotypes of Lupinus angustifolius.

Methods

Ten wild genotypes of L. angustifolius selected from an earlier phenotyping study were grown in three different growth systems: semi-hydroponics, potting-mix filled pots, and river-sand filled pots.

Results

Major root-trait data collected in the present study in the semi-hydroponic growth system were strongly correlated with those from the earlier large phenotyping trial. Plants grown in the two solid media had some of the measured parameters significantly correlated. Principal component analysis captured the major variability in three (semi-hydroponics) or four (solid media) principal components. The genotypes were grouped into five clusters for each growth media, but cluster composition varied among the media. We found genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity in some root traits among tested genotypes. Using input parameters derived from the semihydroponic phenotyping system, simulation models (ROOTMAP and SimRoot) closely reproduced the root systems of a diverse range of lupin genotypes.

Conclusions

Wild L. angustifolius genotypes displayed genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity when exposed to various growth conditions. The consistent ranking of genotypes in the semihydroponic phenotyping system and the two solid media confirmed the capacity of the semihydroponic phenotyping system of providing simple and relevant growing conditions. The results demonstrated the utility of this system in gathering the data for parameterising the simulation models of root architecture.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Australian Research Council. We acknowledge J. Clements from The University of Western Australia, and The Department of Agriculture and Food of Western Australia for providing lupin seed and collection data for this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, School of Earth and Environment (M087), The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Ying Long Chen & Zed Rengel

  2. The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia (M082), 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Ying Long Chen, Kadambot H. M. Siddique & Zed Rengel

  3. Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, The University of Tasmania, Private Bag 54, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia

    Vanessa M. Dunbabin

  4. Department of Horticulture, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Johannes A. Postma & Jonathan P. Lynch

  5. The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, Locked Bag 4, Bentley, WA, 6983, Australia

    Art J. Diggle

  6. CSIRO Plant Industry, Private Bag No. 5, Wembley, WA, 6913, Australia

    Jairo A. Palta

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  1. Ying Long Chen
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  2. Vanessa M. Dunbabin
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Correspondence to Ying Long Chen or Zed Rengel.

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Responsible Editor: Hans Lambers.

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Chen, Y.L., Dunbabin, V.M., Postma, J.A. et al. Phenotypic variability and modelling of root structure of wild Lupinus angustifolius genotypes. Plant Soil 348, 345–364 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0939-z

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