Structure and Function of the Root Cap

The root cap (RC) is a multilayered dome of spindle-shaped parenchyma cells that overlies the growing root tip. It is present in the roots of almost all crop species. This paper briefly reviews some topics on the structure and function of the RC in the major crop species such as maize and rice. Special attention is placed on its contribution to the root system formation, that is, the elongation and growth direction of axile roots. The cells produced in the RC meristem are pushed forward as new cells form beneath them, and eventually the cells on the periphery of the RC fall off. The life cycle of RC cells of maize has been studied extensively and ranges from one to seven days. Approximately 4,000 to 21,000 cells are present in a complete maize RC, and 1,400 to 3,200 sloughed cells can be found in the rhizosphere soil per day per root. These cells, called root border cells (RBCs), mix with RC mucilage and play important roles for the root growth in soil. The RBC-mucilage complex effectively reduces the resistance roots experience during penetration into field soil, about 30–40% of the resistance being reduced by the presence of RC alone. The RC is also a tissue integral to gravitropism, and is known to determine the direction of root growth. The size of amyloplasts and coumellae in RCs has a strong influence on determining the growth angle of axile roots. The function of the individual regions of the RC and how the RC tissues and cells are formed should be studied further to advance our understanding regarding the critical roles of the RC in crop root growth.     

黑豆根尖边缘细胞对盐胁迫的防护效应

采用振荡培养(移除根尖边缘细胞)和静置培养(保持边缘细胞附着在根尖)方法,对比研究盐胁迫对黑豆根系生长和根尖边缘细胞发育、根系Na+、K+含量的影响以及根系生理特性的变化。结果显示:100和200 mmol.L-1NaCl处理抑制边缘细胞发育,引起根系相对电导率和MDA含量增加。振荡培养去除根尖边缘细胞处理36 h,黑豆根相对伸长率、根尖K+含量明显低于对应NaCl浓度的静置培养处理,同时根尖Na+含量、相对电导率和MDA含量在去除边缘细胞后显著增加。说明包裹于根尖的边缘细胞通过调节Na+和K+的吸收和维持较高的细胞膜完整性,以适应盐害环境。     

茶园土壤铝动态及茶树铝吸收特性

本文报告了在茶园和根际土壤铝动态及茶树铝吸收特性方面的一些研究结果。1.对210个样品测定,茶园土壤交换性铝含量为2.5-988mg/kg,平均238 mg/kg。无定形和层间铝是茶园土壤铝的主要形态;植茶后茶园土壤的水溶性、交换性和有机结合态铝趋于增加。2.茶园土壤交换性铝含量随施氮量的提高而增加;供给茶树NH_4~+-N时,茶树根际土壤(距根表 1mm)的交换性铝显著增加。3.铝在一定范围(≤400 μmol/L)增加茶树侧根数量和长度。4.动力学研究表明茶树根系对铝的吸收表现为可饱和特性,初始时有一快速的吸收过程,并在约6h后转变为缓慢的吸收。     

耕层构建方式对土壤理化性状、玉米养分累积及根系形态的影响

以郑单958为试验材料,大田条件下设置T1（浅灭茬后直接播种）、T2（苗带深松后镇压）、T3（行间深松且苗带镇压）、T4（苗带行间全部深松）4种耕作方式,探明不同耕作方式对土壤理化性状、玉米根系空间分布、养分累积及产量的影响。结果表明,T2和T3处理的土壤三相比及土壤含水量均优于T1处理。与T1处理相比,T2和T3处理的根系总干重、总根长和总根表面积增幅分别为10.6%~55.7%、32.6%~43.6%、23.1%~38.9%,各土层间的根系分布更加合理化,提高了根系对土壤养分的吸收利用能力。T2和T3处理显著增加了子粒干重和子粒养分含量,增幅均在15.0%以上（P<0.05）。综上,苗带深松后镇压和行间深松且苗带镇压两种耕作方式均有利于玉米地上部生物量和养分的积累,可改善土壤结构,提高土壤含水量,增加土壤的液相和气相比例,进而促进玉米根系的生长发育及其对更深层次土壤养分的吸收。     

Functional Role of Mucilage - Border Cells: A Complex Facilitating Protozoan Effects on Plant Growth

Abstract

In rhizosphere soil, mucilage and root border cells (RBCs) form a functional entity, the mucilage border-cell complex (MB complex). Carbohydrates of the MB complex are utilized by rhizosphere bacteria, which are under strong grazing pressure of the soil food web, in particular protozoa. We investigated the role of the MB complex for protozoan effects on plant growth. First, the MB complex formed by 16 rice cultivars belonging to different ecotypes and subspecies were quantified. These cultivars were subsequently used to investigate protozoan effects on plant growth. The differences between the highest and lowest MB complex producers were 3.1 and 5.3 times for fully hydrated mucilage and RBCs, respectively. Mucilage production and RBCs showed a significant positive regression (R² = 0.92) in Japonica. Presence of protozoa generally enhanced shoot biomass, lateral root growth and plant nitrogen uptake. Further, upland cultivars showed significantly higher growth enhancement than lowland cultivars in presence of protozoa. A significant positive regression between MB complex and increased lateral root growth by amoeba revealed that the MB complex facilitated protozoan effects on plant growth, which is the first evidence for a new functional role of the MB complex.     

不同耕作方式对辽西褐土物理性状及玉米根系分布的影响

通过连续3年大田试验,对旋耕、翻耕、深松3种耕作方式下的土壤物理性质、玉米根系分布和产量进行测定。结果表明,与翻耕和旋耕相比,深松显著增加了玉米田土壤耕层厚度和降低了犁底层厚度。在中下层土壤,深松还降低了土壤紧实度和容重,改善了土壤的孔隙状况,有利于玉米根系向下生长,使得中下层土壤的玉米根系不仅更丰富,而且占总根系量的比例也更高,最终提高了玉米产量。本研究表明,深松耕作有利于改善辽西褐土区土壤结构和促进玉米生长。     

施氮量对玉米根区土壤微生物区系的影响

采用稀释平板涂布法研究3个施氮量水平对不同栽培模式玉米根区土壤中可培养细菌、真菌和放线菌数量的差异性。结果表明,施氮能大大促进覆膜玉米根区土壤细菌、放线菌及覆草模式真菌数量的增加。玉米根区土壤微生物数量主要受玉米根系的影响,根外土壤微生物的数量主要受施氮量的影响。施氮能缩小常规模式玉米根区与根外土壤细菌和真菌数量的差异,增大常规模式玉米根区与根外土壤放线菌数量的差异,还能缩小覆盖模式玉米根区与根外土壤中3大类微生物数量的差异。玉米根区土壤微生物数量高于根外,但施氮量较高(240 kg/hm2)时,在覆膜和常规对照条件下土壤真菌数量及覆草模式下土壤细菌数量表现为根外高于根区。     

Combined Soil Physical Stress of Soil Drying,Anaerobiosis and Mechanical Impedance to Seedling Root Growth of Four Crop Species

Abstract

Soil compaction often creates combined physical stresses of drought, anaerobiosis, and mechanical impedance in field soil. This paper aims to analyze the effect of combined and independent soil physical stresses on crop root growth to find out the species-specific response to the physical stresses, which has not been reported before. Drying stress without the increase of mechanical impedance was evaluated in a very loose pot soil environment. This drying stress did not modify the root elongation rates of rice and pea by the 48 h exposure to the stress environment. For maize and cotton, however, mild drying stress (?80 kPa Ψw) enhanced root elongation by 17-18%, but severe drying stress (?900 kPa Ψw) reduced it by 17-21% as compared with the control environment (?10 kPa Ψw). The combined stress of drying and mechanical impedance nearly stopped the root elongation in all the species, while that of anaerobiosis and mechanical impedance did not stop the elongation of rice and cotton; cotton elongated about 32% of control environment. In maize, root diameter was reduced by the severe drying stress due to the reduction in the number of cortical cell layer and diameters of both central cylinder and xylem vessel. In contrast, cotton showed a significant increment of cortex diameter, although overall diameter was not statistically increased by the severe drying stress. The ability of cotton to continue elongation under anaerobiosis and mechanical stress implied the higher penetration ability to the hard pan layer under the anaerobic condition just after the heavy rainfall.     

滴灌条件下不同土壤质地对水稻苗期根系生长和分布的影响

【目的】研究滴灌条件下不同土壤质地对水稻苗期根系生长和分布的影响,揭示土壤质地对滴灌水稻苗期生长的重要作用,阐明滴灌水稻苗期生长发育机理。【方法】在石河子大学试验场采用盆栽土柱试验,设置重壤土、轻壤土、砂土共3个处理,每个处理重复3次,在播后10、20、30、40 d取样,对比不同处理出苗率、根系形态、生物量、根系活力、根系分布等指标,分析不同土壤条件对滴灌水稻苗期根系生长及分布的影响。【结果】砂土平均出苗率比重壤土、轻壤土分别高15.21和4.6个百分点;计算各项指标40 d平均值可知,重壤土处理根数比轻壤土、砂土处理分别高26.73%和15.67%;重壤土处理平均根长比轻壤土、砂土处理分别高4.52%和13.92%;重壤土处理根系体积比轻壤土、砂土处理分别高18.53%和43.15%;砂土处理最长根长比重壤土、轻壤土处理分别高38.44%和12.69%;重壤土处理总生物量比轻壤土、砂土处理分别高19.76%和41.48%。重壤土处理根系生物量比轻壤土、砂土处理分别高14.98%和35.83%。苗期根系活力表现为重壤土>轻壤土>砂土,重壤土处理40 d内平均根系活力比轻壤土、砂土处理分别高3.54%和13.91%;滴灌水稻苗期根系分布情况表现为前期水稻根系集中在0-5 cm土层中,后期根系开始逐渐分布于0-20 cm土层。【结论】不同的土壤质地对滴灌水稻出苗率、根系形态、生物量、根系活力和根系分布影响显著。因此,滴灌水稻的种植推广过程中,不同土壤质地应采取不同的播种量和相应的栽培措施,才能达到滴灌水稻的优质、高产和高效的目标。     

Responses of Root Growth to Moderate Soil Water Deficit in Wheat Seedlings

Abstract

In the field, plants show better root growth in drying soil than in wet soil. However, the root growth enhancement has not been demonstrated clearly in the laboratory. In this study, the root growth response of wheat seedlings to moderate soil water deficits was characterized quantitatively in an environment-controlled chamber. Germinated seeds of wheat were grown for 15 days in the soil with a water potential ranging from field capacity (FC) to approximately –0.08 MPa. Theleaf area decreased with reduction in soil water potential. By contrast, the root surface area increased upon reduction ofthe soil water potential to –0.04 MPa while it decreased significantly in soil with a water potential of –0.08 MPa. The increase in surface area was obvious in the roots with a diameter of 0.2 to 0.4 mm and larger than 0.7 mm. Root weight increased with the reduction of soil water potential to –0.04 MPa. While specific root length decreased significantly with the reduction of water potential to –0.06 MPa, the specific root surface area did not. Assimilatestransported from shoot might be used in roots to increae the surface area mainly by increasing the diameter rather than the length in response to a moderate soil water deficit in wheat seedlings. This might result from the drought tolerance mechanism of osmotic adjustment in roots.     

铝胁迫下大豆根系分泌物对根际土壤的影响

以2个大豆品种（浙春2号和浙春3号）为材料，设置了4个铝浓度，分别在铝处理7d和14d时，测定大豆根系分泌物中的氨基酸、有机酸及可溶性糖，同时对大豆根际土壤的pH值、土壤酶和土壤呼吸速率进行分析。实验结果显示，虽然根系分泌物对根际土壤具有一定的酸化作用，但是随着铝浓度的升高，根系分泌物有使根际土壤酸碱度趋向平衡的效应。低铝浓度下，大豆根系分泌较多的可溶性糖和氨基酸，促使根际土壤酶活性的增强和土壤呼吸速率的提高，同时还可分泌较多的柠檬酸，与大豆的耐铝性相关。高铝浓度抑制主要根系分泌物的分泌，降低土壤酶活性和土壤呼吸速率；但高铝胁迫增加可溶性糖分泌量。实验结果表明，浙春2号大豆比浙春3号大豆耐铝；随着铝处理时间的延长，铝毒害作用明显。     

我国超级稻根系特性及根际生态研究现状与趋势

以超级稻为代表的一批超高产水稻研发成功使水稻单产获得大幅度提高。较大的根系生物量、根重密度、根长、根长密度和根直径,根系偏向纵深分布且土壤深层根系生物量增大是超级稻根系生物学主要特征;高的单株根系氧化力、总吸收表面积、活跃吸收表面积、根系细胞分裂素(玉米素与玉米素核苷)含量是超级稻扩库增产的重要根系生理基础。生产中的施肥管理、水分管理、种植方式和根际土壤生态环境pH、氧、微生物、氮素形态等均可显著影响水稻根系的生长发育。通过适当的技术措施调控水稻根际生态环境向有利于水稻生长生理需求方向发展,以促进水稻根系健壮生长,实现水稻增产。水稻高产群体根系构型的形成与根际土壤生态因子匹配原理与调控,高产水稻地下根系、根际生态因子与地上群体的互作机制与调控路径,水稻根系定量化等方面是今后水稻根系深入研究的主要方向。     

园龄对可可苗期生长及其根际土壤环境的影响

可可是世界最重要的多年生经济作物之一,为了揭示不同园龄可可园土壤演变规律,为其可持续生产提供依据。以休耕地为对照(CK),研究低龄(4 a)、中龄(12 a)和老龄(32 a)3种不同园龄土壤培育可可苗期生长及其与根际土壤有机碳(SOC)含量、土壤酶活性和微生物区系等关系。结果表明,32 a园龄土壤培育可可苗生物量显著高于4 a、12 a和CK,分别增加了89.15%、29.24%和28.03%;32 a和12 a园龄处理根际SOC含量显著高于4 a园龄,老龄园有利于SOC的积累;随着园龄增加,脲酶活性增加,且与SOC含量极显著正相关,12 a和32 a园龄土壤脲酶活性分别比CK显著增加了44.36%和43.11%;12 a园龄处理根际土壤中可培养细菌数量减少,真菌数量则显著增加,12 a土壤可培养真菌数量分别是4 a、32 a和CK的3.04、1.46和3.23倍,园龄可能导致土壤微生物区系变化。综上所述,随着土壤园龄增加,可可苗生物量、根际SOC含量和脲酶活性均增加,根际土壤微生物区系发生变化,根际土壤真菌数量与SOC含量、脲酶活性极显著正相关,可可根际SOC含量是光合作用、植株生长、土壤酶活性和土壤微生物共同作用的结果。     

轮耕对麦田土壤容重和小麦根系发育的影响

为给小麦生产中的合理轮耕提供参考依据,通过田间定位试验,研究了轮耕麦田土壤容重及小麦根系发育的变化。结果表明,与连续旋耕3年相比,旋耕2年后深耕处理降低了15～25cm土层土壤容重,对表层土壤容重影响相对较小,增加了不同层次土壤根量、生育中后期15～20cm土壤单株次生根数和根系活力。说明在黄淮平原当前普遍采用一年两熟种植制度和作物秸秆通过旋耕还田的耕作方式下,采取旋耕2年后深耕对于改善麦田土壤条件、促进小麦根系生长发育更为有利。     

结实期干湿交替灌溉对水稻根系、产量和土壤的影响

[目的]干湿交替灌溉(WMD)对水稻根系生长和产量形成有重要影响,但其对土壤性状的影响,以及与根系生长的关系尚不明确.[方法]本研究以5个不同类型的水稻品种为材料,在结实期设置常规灌溉(CI)和干湿交替灌溉(WMD)两种灌溉方式处理,研究了其对水稻产量、根系形态生理及土壤性状的影响.[结果]1)与CI相比,结实期WMD...     

Genotypic Variations in Response of Lateral Root Development to Fluctuating Soil Moisture in Rice

Abstract

Developmental plasticity in lateral roots may be one of the key traits for the growth of rice plants under soil moisture fluctuations. We aimed to examine responses in seminal root system development to changing soil moisture for diverse rice cultivars. Special attention was paid to the two different types of lateral roots ; the generally long, thick L type capable of branching into higher orders, and the non-branching S type. Plants were grown in half-split polyvinyl chloride tubes fixed with transparent acrylic plate for root observation under glasshouse conditions. When plants were grown first under drought conditions, then rewatered, the seminal root system development in terms of dry weight and total length was promoted as compared with plants grown under continuously well-watered conditions in IR AT 109 and Dular, drought tolerant cultivars. Promoted production of L type lateral roots mainly contributed to the development of the longer seminal root system. Plants exposed to soil submergence before they were grown under drought conditions did not show such promoted responses in these two cultivars. However, in KDML 105, a drought tolerant cultivar, the production of especially L type laterals was substantially promoted under drought and rewatered conditions. Honenwase was characterized by the shallow root system and great reduction in root system length when soil moisture becomes limited. These facts show that genotypic variations exist in the plastic response of rice seminal root system and that the L type lateral root plays a key role in manifestation of this plasticity.     

茶树根际土壤物质的自毒潜力及其对土壤微生物多样性的影响

为了分析茶树根际土壤物质对茶树根际土壤微生物多样性的影响,本研究以植茶年限0、3、9、25 a的铁观音茶树根际土壤为材料,采用不同极性树脂吸附茶树根际土壤物质并洗脱,探讨不同植茶年限茶树根际土壤物质的自毒潜力及其对土壤微生物多样性的影响。结果表明,不同极性树脂吸附洗脱液以ADS-7树脂洗脱液对受体根长的抑制作用最强。ADS-7树脂吸附洗脱液处理重新种植的茶树后,随着土壤植茶年限的增加,茶树根际土壤细菌数量呈现下降趋势。相关性分析结果表明,与土壤年限呈正相关的细菌T-RFs片段15个,涉及8个纲,31种细菌,按照其功能可分为4类,其中病原菌19种,占比61.29%;负相关细菌T-RFs片段18个,涉及11个纲,31种细菌,按照其功能可分为6类,其中与抑制病原菌、碳素循环、氮素循环、硫素循环、土壤质地改善相关的细菌总占比达到83.87%。综上表明,ADS-7树脂洗脱液处理重新种植的茶树后,随着土壤植茶年限的增加,茶树根际土壤病原菌数量大幅上升,益生菌与土壤养分循环相关的细菌数量显著下降,土壤微生物生态系统平衡失调。     

玉米秸秆不同还田方式对土壤有机质及微生物数量的影响

2011～2015年采用玉米田间原位定位试验方法,探讨农户常规种植(根茬还田)、根茬+1/3秸秆还田、根茬+秸秆全量粉碎耕翻还田对土壤有机质及土壤微生物数量的影响。结果表明,根茬还田(对照)土壤有机质年下降0.14 g/kg,根茬+1/3秸秆还田和根茬+全部秸秆还田处理土壤有机质年分别提高0.03 g/kg和0.26 g/kg。同时,秸秆还田能显著增加细菌、真菌、放射菌、自生固氮菌、硝化细菌、纤维素分解菌的总体数量。根茬+1/3秸秆还田和根茬+秸秆全量粉碎耕翻还田后可使土壤有机质年提高,是吉林中部黑土农田提高土壤有机质可行的农艺措施。     

根瘤菌对大豆根际土壤微生物及大豆农艺性状的影响

为研究施用根瘤菌条件下,大豆不同生育期土壤中微生物数量的动态变化及其对大豆农艺性状的影响,于大豆苗期、花期、结荚期、鼓粒期、成熟期分别对大豆根际土壤细菌、真菌、放线菌采用平板计数法进行数量测定;于大豆成熟期对大豆农艺性状及产量进行测定。结果表明:大豆根际土壤微生物数目随大豆生育期不同而发生变化。与对照相比,根瘤菌的施用均增加了除花期外各时期土壤中细菌的数量,在结荚期、鼓粒期和成熟期,增加了土壤真菌数量,在结荚期和成熟期增加了土壤放线菌数量;根瘤菌的施用增加了大豆的株高、主茎节数、单株荚数和单株粒数,且有效增加了大豆产量,与对照相比增产19.44%。     

Rooting Nodes of Deep Roots in Rice and Maize Grown in a Long Tube

Summary

Penetration of the roots deep into soil layer (deep roots) may alleviate growth inhibition under various soil stress conditions. In this study, the nodes from which deep roots had emerged were examined at the heading stage in rice and maize grown in a 2 m long tube. The effect of soil mechanical stress on the rooting nodes of deep roots was also examined. The roots that emerged in a relatively early growth stage, that is, the roots from coleoptilar, 1st and 2nd node in rice, and the seminal root and roots from the coleoptilar, 1st and 2nd nodes in maize, penetrated into the deep soil layer. The node which produced the highest number of deep roots was the 1st node in rice and the coleoptilar node in maize. Seminal root of rice and seminal adventitious roots of maize did not penetrate into the deep soil layer although they emerged at an early growth stage. In the rice root system, the nodal roots, emerged from the upper portion of the node, tended to penetrate deeper than the nodal roots emerged from the lower portion of the same node. Soil compaction did not affect these tendencies.