Root ideotype for a low phosphorus environment
Problem
Phosphorus (P) is a key nutritional element for crop productivity, critical for plant root formation, energy transfer and DNA synthesis. However, P is an immobile nutrient and binds to soil particles, making it less available to plant roots. P is also a finite resource which needs to be used more efficiently within agricultural systems.
Solution
Root traits with evidence for improving P capture and uptake were developed into a single root ideotype (a model of an ideal root system), with priority root traits indicated where more evidence was available. Ideotypes have been developed for cereal, faba bean and potato crop species.
Benefits
Through breeding and managing these crop species to exhibit these ideal root traits, crop P capture will be improved, enhancing crop yield in low to medium P available soils and increasing the crop use efficiency of P nutrient inputs.
For more information and practical recommendations, please see:
https://zenodo.org/records/19564425
Root phenotyping and genetic improvement for rotational crops resilient to environmental change
Ongoing | 2022-2027
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- France, Slovenia, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Morocco, South Africa