Appropriate root system architecture (RSA) is essential for efficient water and nutrient use, especially in high-density planting conditions in intensive maize cropping systems. Modern maize breeding has favoured steeper, narrower root systems. We identified two auxin-related genes, ZmRSA3.1 and ZmRSA3.2, which can potentially be used for future improvement of maize RSA.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Relevant articles
Open Access articles citing this article.
-
Effects of different fertilization practices on maize yield, soil nutrients, soil moisture, and water use efficiency in northern China based on a meta-analysis
Scientific Reports Open Access 18 March 2024
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Duvick, D. N. The contribution of breeding to yield advances in maize (Zea mays L.). Adv. Agron. 86, 83–145 (2005). A Review article that presents the contribution of breeding to yield advances in maize.
Wang, B. et al. Genome-wide selection and genetic improvement during modern maize breeding. Nat. Genet. 52, 565–571 (2020). This paper reports on the evolutionary characteristics of above-ground agronomic traits in the modern maize breeding process.
Lynch, J. P. Root phenotypes for improved nutrient capture: an underexploited opportunity for global agriculture. New Phytol. 223, 548–564 (2019). A Review article that presents the importance of carrying out genetic improvement of the root system.
Bray, A. L. & Topp, C. N. The quantitative genetic control of root architecture in maize. Plant Cell Physiol. 59, 1919–1930 (2018). A Review article that presents the progress and challenges of genetic research on RSA in maize.
Liu, J., Fernie, A. R. & Yan, J. The past, present, and future of maize improvement: domestication, genomics, and functional genomic routes toward crop enhancement. Plant Commun. 1, 100010 (2020). A Review article that presents the progress of research on the domestication and improvement of maize.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Ren, W. et al. Genome-wide dissection of changes in maize root system architecture during modern breeding. Nat. Plants https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-022-01274-z (2022).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Maize root system architecture improvement for high-density planting. Nat. Plants 8, 1337–1338 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-022-01277-w
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-022-01277-w
