Abstract
Main conclusions
A novel image-based screening method for precisely identifying genotypic variations in rapeseed RSA under waterlogging stress was developed. Five key root traits were confirmed as good indicators of waterlogging and might be employed in breeding, particularly when using the MFVW approach.
Abstract
Waterlogging is a vital environmental factor that has detrimental effects on the growth and development of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Plant roots suffer from hypoxia under waterlogging, which ultimately confers yield penalty. Therefore, it is crucially important to understand the genetic variation of root system architecture (RSA) in response to waterlogging stress to guide the selection of new tolerant cultivars with favorable roots. This research was conducted to investigate RSA traits using image-based screening techniques to better understand how RSA changes over time during waterlogging at the seedling stage. First, we performed a t-test by comparing the relative root trait value between four tolerant and four sensitive accessions. The most important root characteristics associated with waterlogging tolerance at 12 h are total root length (TRL), total root surface area (TRSA), total root volume (TRV), total number of tips (TNT), and total number of forks (TNF). The root structures of 448 rapeseed accessions with or without waterlogging showed notable genetic diversity, and all traits were generally restrained under waterlogging conditions, except for the total root average diameter. Additionally, according to the evaluation and integration analysis of 448 accessions, we identified that five traits, TRL, TRSA, TRV, TNT, and TNF, were the most reliable traits for screening waterlogging-tolerant accessions. Using analysis of the membership function value (MFVW) and D-value of the five selected traits, 25 extremely waterlogging-tolerant materials were screened out. Waterlogging significantly reduced RSA, inhibiting root growth compared to the control. Additionally, waterlogging increased lipid peroxidation, accompanied by a decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). This study effectively improves our understanding of the response of RSA to waterlogging. The image-based screening method developed in this study provides a new scientific guidance for quickly examining the basic RSA changes and precisely predicting waterlogging-tolerant rapeseed germplasms, thus expanding the genetic diversity of waterlogging-tolerant rapeseed germplasm available for breeding.
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Data availability
The data analyzed during this study are included in this manuscript and its supplementary files.
Abbreviations
- MDA:
-
Malondialdehyde
- MFVW:
-
Membership function value of waterlogging tolerance
- PRL:
-
Primary root length
- RFW:
-
Root fresh weight
- RSA:
-
Root system architecture
- SFW:
-
Shoot fresh weight
- SOD:
-
Superoxide dismutase
- TARD:
-
Total average root diameter
- TNT:
-
Total number of tips
- TNF:
-
Total number of forks
- TRL:
-
Total root length
- TRSA:
-
Total root surface area
- TRV:
-
Total root volume
- WLI:
-
Waterlogging tolerant index
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project grant number CAAS-ZDRW202105, CAAS-OCRI-ZDRW-202201 and CAAS-ASTIP; Germplasm Resources Protection Project in China (19230665); China Agriculture Research System grant number CARS-12; National Center for Crop Germplasm Resources (NCCGR-2023-016) for their financial support.
Funding
This research was funded by the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project grant number CAAS-ZDRW202105, CAAS-OCRI-ZDRW-202201 and CAAS-ASTIP; Germplasm Resources Protection Project in China (19230665); China Agriculture Research System grant number CARS-12; National Center for Crop Germplasm Resources (NCCGR-2023–016).
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X. Wu, G. Yan, and N. Ullah conceived and designed the research. X. Wu, G. Cai, and H. Li participated in germplasm collection. N. Ullah, F. Qian, Y. Xue, W. Guan, G. Ji, H. Li, and Q. Huang performed experiments and phenotyping. N. Ullah, F. Qian, Y. Xue, W. Guan, and G. Ji analyzed the data. N. Ullah wrote the manuscript. X. Wu, R. Geng, G. Yan, and G. Cai revised the manuscript.
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Ullah, N., Qian, F., Geng, R. et al. Root system architecture change in response to waterlogging stress in a 448 global collection of rapeseeds (Brassica napus L.). Planta 259, 95 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-024-04369-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-024-04369-3