Root adaptive responses for improvement of abiotic stress tolerance in
Pennycress
Abstract
Roots are the interface between the plant and the soil and play a
central role in multiple ecosystem processes. With intensification of
agricultural practices, rhizosphere processes are being disrupted and
are causing degradation of the physical, chemical, and biotic properties
of soil. Improvement of ecosystem service performance is rarely
considered as a breeding trait due to the complexities and challenges of
belowground evaluation. Advancements in root phenotyping and genetic
tools are critical in accelerating ecosystem service improvement in
cover crops. Here I will present root phenotyping approaches for
assessing ecosystem service in a prospective cash cover crop; pennycress
(Thlaspi arvense L.). In development is a large format mesocosm system
that will allow 3D root system architecture analysis of multiple plants.
Using this system, we will be assessing how variation in pennycress root
system architecture can affect ecosystem service and abiotic stress
tolerance with the plant to scale from single plant to canopy level
traits.