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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Plant Stress and Germplasm Development Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #215618
Title: Growth and development of root system

Author
item McMichael, Bobbie
item OOSTERHUIS, DERRICK - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item ZAK, JOHN - TEXAS TECH UNIVERISTY
item BEYROUTY, C - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Submitted to: Cotton Physiology Book II
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2006
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The growth and development of cotton roots can be influenced by many factors ranging from genetic differences to factors such as soil temperature, soil water and pathogens. It is important to understand how these factors interact with each other in order to develop a management strategy to maximize root system function for improved plant performance and yields.

Technical Abstract: The growth and development of root systems of cotton plants is under genetic control but may be modified by the environment. There are many factors that influence root development in cotton. These range from abiotic factors such as soil temperature, soil water, and soil aeration to biotic factors such as mycorrhizae, pathogens and herbicides and fertilizer. There are also many techniques to measure the growth of plant root systems such as rhizotron and minirhizotron installations to growing plants in glass wall containers so that root development can be observed. The genetic diversity in cotton root systems can range from differences in branching to differences in the development of total root length.