Harnessing root phenotyping and root growth plasticity of landraces of maize (Zea mays L.) for enhancing waterlogging tolerance in fragile and challenging agro-ecologies of Eastern Himalaya

Maize is a major crop of the Eastern Himalayan Region (EHR) which faces significant environmental challenges including waterlogging (WL) under changing climate. Through microcosm and field experiments, this study aimed to evaluate the phenotypic plasticity and adaptive mechanisms of maize landraces...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: E. Lamalakshmi Devi, Krishnappa Rangappa, Ayam Gangarani Devi, S.K. Chongtham, Ingudam Bhupenchandra, Konsam Sarika, Harendra Verma, Rumi Narzari, Samarendra Hazarika, Sankar Prasad Das, B.U. Choudhury, Anil Kumar Choudhury, T.L. Bhutia, V.K. Mishra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025007200
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832573107881115648
author E. Lamalakshmi Devi
Krishnappa Rangappa
Ayam Gangarani Devi
S.K. Chongtham
Ingudam Bhupenchandra
Konsam Sarika
Harendra Verma
Rumi Narzari
Samarendra Hazarika
Sankar Prasad Das
B.U. Choudhury
Anil Kumar Choudhury
T.L. Bhutia
V.K. Mishra
author_facet E. Lamalakshmi Devi
Krishnappa Rangappa
Ayam Gangarani Devi
S.K. Chongtham
Ingudam Bhupenchandra
Konsam Sarika
Harendra Verma
Rumi Narzari
Samarendra Hazarika
Sankar Prasad Das
B.U. Choudhury
Anil Kumar Choudhury
T.L. Bhutia
V.K. Mishra
author_sort E. Lamalakshmi Devi
collection DOAJ
description Maize is a major crop of the Eastern Himalayan Region (EHR) which faces significant environmental challenges including waterlogging (WL) under changing climate. Through microcosm and field experiments, this study aimed to evaluate the phenotypic plasticity and adaptive mechanisms of maize landraces under WL conditions at the seedling and flowering stages. Based on the response coefficient and waterlogging tolerance coefficient 14 landraces at the seedling stage were found to be WL tolerant whereas RCM-12-19, RCM-32-19, and RCM-16-19, emerged as WL tolerant at both stages. At seedling stage, Root Length ratio (RLR) has increased under WL stress to the tune of 98.4 % while Root Mass Ratio (RMR) has ranged from 0.09 to 0.47 for control and from 0.10 to 0.55 under WL. Root:shoot ratio varied from 0.10 to 0.88 and 0.11–1.23 under control and WL, respectively and a total of 19 genotypes reflected tolerance trait under WL. Phenotyping of key root traits (brace root angle (BA1), branching, and crown root number) revealed their substantial contribution to stress resilience, as confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA) and regression models. PCA indicates, for root tissue density (RTD) and root fineness (RF) at seedling stage, genotypes like RCM-34-19, RCM-10-19, RCM-23-19, RCM-42-19, and RCM-31-19 are closely associated with the second principal component (PC2). Whereas, at flowering stage, RCM-39-19, RCM-52-19, RCM-34-19, RCM-32-19, RCM-2-19, RCM-43-19, RCM-5-19, RCM-45-19, RCM-47-19, and RCM-50-19 exhibited strong positive loadings on (PC2) for the trait BA1. The results indicate that brace- and crown roots exhibit genotype-dependent architectural plasticity, which reduces the metabolic cost of soil exploration by increasing BA1, branching of brace roots (BB), and the number of brace roots (BO) while decreasing above-ground whorls (BW); thereby improving nutrient uptake from topsoil under WL stress. RCM-12-19, RCM-32-19, RCM-16-19, and RCM-23-19 demonstrated rapid root growth and branching after WL stress at the flowering stage, supporting their potential for breeding WL-tolerant maize. These findings align with the “steep, cheap, and deep” (SCD) root ideotype, where reduced crown root number and deeper root architecture improve nutrient uptake and yield. Genotype RCM-11-19 apart from scoring high through visual scoring was also found to have the highest dry biomass (76.7 g plant-1) and grain yield (12.2 g plant-1) under WL conditions. This research identifies critical root traits and promising genotypes for developing WL-tolerant maize, contributing to sustainable crop production in rain-fed EHR environments.
format Article
id doaj-art-ce08c1999a5b4218b4084572602382fd
institution Kabale University
issn 2405-8440
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Heliyon
spelling doaj-art-ce08c1999a5b4218b4084572602382fd2025-02-02T05:29:05ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-02-01113e42340Harnessing root phenotyping and root growth plasticity of landraces of maize (Zea mays L.) for enhancing waterlogging tolerance in fragile and challenging agro-ecologies of Eastern HimalayaE. Lamalakshmi Devi0Krishnappa Rangappa1Ayam Gangarani Devi2S.K. Chongtham3Ingudam Bhupenchandra4Konsam Sarika5Harendra Verma6Rumi Narzari7Samarendra Hazarika8Sankar Prasad Das9B.U. Choudhury10Anil Kumar Choudhury11T.L. Bhutia12V.K. Mishra13ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, 737102, Sikkim, IndiaICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, 793103, Meghalaya, India; Corresponding author. Division of Crop Sciences, ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, 793103, India.ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Tripura Centre, Lembucherra, 799210, Tripura, IndiaMulti Technology Testing Centre & Vocational Training Centre, College of Horticulture, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Bermiok, Sikkim, 737134, India; Corresponding author.ICAR-KVK Tamenglong-795141, ICAR RC NEH Region, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat, Manipur, IndiaICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat, 795004, Manipur, IndiaICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani, 797106, Nagaland, IndiaICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, 793103, Meghalaya, IndiaICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, 793103, Meghalaya, IndiaICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Tripura Centre, Lembucherra, 799210, Tripura, India; ICAR-National Research Centre for Orchids, Pakyong, 737106, Sikkim, IndiaICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, 793103, Meghalaya, IndiaICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, 171001, IndiaICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, 737102, Sikkim, IndiaICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, 793103, Meghalaya, IndiaMaize is a major crop of the Eastern Himalayan Region (EHR) which faces significant environmental challenges including waterlogging (WL) under changing climate. Through microcosm and field experiments, this study aimed to evaluate the phenotypic plasticity and adaptive mechanisms of maize landraces under WL conditions at the seedling and flowering stages. Based on the response coefficient and waterlogging tolerance coefficient 14 landraces at the seedling stage were found to be WL tolerant whereas RCM-12-19, RCM-32-19, and RCM-16-19, emerged as WL tolerant at both stages. At seedling stage, Root Length ratio (RLR) has increased under WL stress to the tune of 98.4 % while Root Mass Ratio (RMR) has ranged from 0.09 to 0.47 for control and from 0.10 to 0.55 under WL. Root:shoot ratio varied from 0.10 to 0.88 and 0.11–1.23 under control and WL, respectively and a total of 19 genotypes reflected tolerance trait under WL. Phenotyping of key root traits (brace root angle (BA1), branching, and crown root number) revealed their substantial contribution to stress resilience, as confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA) and regression models. PCA indicates, for root tissue density (RTD) and root fineness (RF) at seedling stage, genotypes like RCM-34-19, RCM-10-19, RCM-23-19, RCM-42-19, and RCM-31-19 are closely associated with the second principal component (PC2). Whereas, at flowering stage, RCM-39-19, RCM-52-19, RCM-34-19, RCM-32-19, RCM-2-19, RCM-43-19, RCM-5-19, RCM-45-19, RCM-47-19, and RCM-50-19 exhibited strong positive loadings on (PC2) for the trait BA1. The results indicate that brace- and crown roots exhibit genotype-dependent architectural plasticity, which reduces the metabolic cost of soil exploration by increasing BA1, branching of brace roots (BB), and the number of brace roots (BO) while decreasing above-ground whorls (BW); thereby improving nutrient uptake from topsoil under WL stress. RCM-12-19, RCM-32-19, RCM-16-19, and RCM-23-19 demonstrated rapid root growth and branching after WL stress at the flowering stage, supporting their potential for breeding WL-tolerant maize. These findings align with the “steep, cheap, and deep” (SCD) root ideotype, where reduced crown root number and deeper root architecture improve nutrient uptake and yield. Genotype RCM-11-19 apart from scoring high through visual scoring was also found to have the highest dry biomass (76.7 g plant-1) and grain yield (12.2 g plant-1) under WL conditions. This research identifies critical root traits and promising genotypes for developing WL-tolerant maize, contributing to sustainable crop production in rain-fed EHR environments.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025007200MaizeShovelomicsResponse coefficientRoot architectureStress screening traitsWaterlogging tolerance coefficient
spellingShingle E. Lamalakshmi Devi
Krishnappa Rangappa
Ayam Gangarani Devi
S.K. Chongtham
Ingudam Bhupenchandra
Konsam Sarika
Harendra Verma
Rumi Narzari
Samarendra Hazarika
Sankar Prasad Das
B.U. Choudhury
Anil Kumar Choudhury
T.L. Bhutia
V.K. Mishra
Harnessing root phenotyping and root growth plasticity of landraces of maize (Zea mays L.) for enhancing waterlogging tolerance in fragile and challenging agro-ecologies of Eastern Himalaya
Heliyon
Maize
Shovelomics
Response coefficient
Root architecture
Stress screening traits
Waterlogging tolerance coefficient
title Harnessing root phenotyping and root growth plasticity of landraces of maize (Zea mays L.) for enhancing waterlogging tolerance in fragile and challenging agro-ecologies of Eastern Himalaya
title_full Harnessing root phenotyping and root growth plasticity of landraces of maize (Zea mays L.) for enhancing waterlogging tolerance in fragile and challenging agro-ecologies of Eastern Himalaya
title_fullStr Harnessing root phenotyping and root growth plasticity of landraces of maize (Zea mays L.) for enhancing waterlogging tolerance in fragile and challenging agro-ecologies of Eastern Himalaya
title_full_unstemmed Harnessing root phenotyping and root growth plasticity of landraces of maize (Zea mays L.) for enhancing waterlogging tolerance in fragile and challenging agro-ecologies of Eastern Himalaya
title_short Harnessing root phenotyping and root growth plasticity of landraces of maize (Zea mays L.) for enhancing waterlogging tolerance in fragile and challenging agro-ecologies of Eastern Himalaya
title_sort harnessing root phenotyping and root growth plasticity of landraces of maize zea mays l for enhancing waterlogging tolerance in fragile and challenging agro ecologies of eastern himalaya
topic Maize
Shovelomics
Response coefficient
Root architecture
Stress screening traits
Waterlogging tolerance coefficient
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025007200
work_keys_str_mv AT elamalakshmidevi harnessingrootphenotypingandrootgrowthplasticityoflandracesofmaizezeamayslforenhancingwaterloggingtoleranceinfragileandchallengingagroecologiesofeasternhimalaya
AT krishnapparangappa harnessingrootphenotypingandrootgrowthplasticityoflandracesofmaizezeamayslforenhancingwaterloggingtoleranceinfragileandchallengingagroecologiesofeasternhimalaya
AT ayamgangaranidevi harnessingrootphenotypingandrootgrowthplasticityoflandracesofmaizezeamayslforenhancingwaterloggingtoleranceinfragileandchallengingagroecologiesofeasternhimalaya
AT skchongtham harnessingrootphenotypingandrootgrowthplasticityoflandracesofmaizezeamayslforenhancingwaterloggingtoleranceinfragileandchallengingagroecologiesofeasternhimalaya
AT ingudambhupenchandra harnessingrootphenotypingandrootgrowthplasticityoflandracesofmaizezeamayslforenhancingwaterloggingtoleranceinfragileandchallengingagroecologiesofeasternhimalaya
AT konsamsarika harnessingrootphenotypingandrootgrowthplasticityoflandracesofmaizezeamayslforenhancingwaterloggingtoleranceinfragileandchallengingagroecologiesofeasternhimalaya
AT harendraverma harnessingrootphenotypingandrootgrowthplasticityoflandracesofmaizezeamayslforenhancingwaterloggingtoleranceinfragileandchallengingagroecologiesofeasternhimalaya
AT ruminarzari harnessingrootphenotypingandrootgrowthplasticityoflandracesofmaizezeamayslforenhancingwaterloggingtoleranceinfragileandchallengingagroecologiesofeasternhimalaya
AT samarendrahazarika harnessingrootphenotypingandrootgrowthplasticityoflandracesofmaizezeamayslforenhancingwaterloggingtoleranceinfragileandchallengingagroecologiesofeasternhimalaya
AT sankarprasaddas harnessingrootphenotypingandrootgrowthplasticityoflandracesofmaizezeamayslforenhancingwaterloggingtoleranceinfragileandchallengingagroecologiesofeasternhimalaya
AT buchoudhury harnessingrootphenotypingandrootgrowthplasticityoflandracesofmaizezeamayslforenhancingwaterloggingtoleranceinfragileandchallengingagroecologiesofeasternhimalaya
AT anilkumarchoudhury harnessingrootphenotypingandrootgrowthplasticityoflandracesofmaizezeamayslforenhancingwaterloggingtoleranceinfragileandchallengingagroecologiesofeasternhimalaya
AT tlbhutia harnessingrootphenotypingandrootgrowthplasticityoflandracesofmaizezeamayslforenhancingwaterloggingtoleranceinfragileandchallengingagroecologiesofeasternhimalaya
AT vkmishra harnessingrootphenotypingandrootgrowthplasticityoflandracesofmaizezeamayslforenhancingwaterloggingtoleranceinfragileandchallengingagroecologiesofeasternhimalaya