Author
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Zobel, Richard |
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Submitted to: American Society for Horticultural Science
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/1995 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Not required. Technical Abstract: Seedling stresses reduce crop stands and increase seedling susceptibility to plant diseases. The preponderance of stresses are sensed through the root system of seedlings. This article reviews the stresses commonly affecting seedling roots, and presents new information about methodologies which can be used to breed for stress tolerance. It is emphasized that there are three types of root in all seedlings, and that these different types of root can have distinctly different responses to their environment. It is shown that rootzone temperature and carbon dioxide concentration, though of importance in characterizing the rootzone environment, are inadequately characterized in most stress studies. Interaction between different stressful factors and other root zone characteristics, is shown to be a significant affector in stress studies. It is concluded that all rootzone characteristics, and each root type, must be monitored for effective screening for stress tolerance. |
