Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #419873
Research Project: Advancing Cotton Genetics and Innovative Cropping Systems for Improved Quality and Production

Location: Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research

Title: Better root length distribution in the deep soil profile enhances cotton performance

Author
item GHIMIRE, O - Clemson University
item KURAPARTHY, V - North Carolina State University
item JONES, M - Clemson University
item Campbell, Benjamin
item BRIDGES, JR., W - Clemson University
item Alege, Femi
item Delhom, Christopher
item NARAYANAN, S - Clemson University

Submitted to: Field Crops Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/14/2025
Publication Date: 2/19/2025
Citation: Ghimire, O.P., Kuraparthy, V., Jones, M.A., Campbell, B.T., Bridges, Jr., W.C., Alege, F.P., Delhom, C.D., Narayanan, S. 2025. Better root length distribution in the deep soil profile enhances cotton performance. Field Crops Research. 325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109805.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109805

Interpretive Summary: Despite the importance, little progress has been made in enhancing cotton root systems. We evaluated a subset of a U.S. cotton diversity panel under field conditions in 2022 and 2023 to identify the root architectural phenotypes that enhance effective water use and aboveground performance. We found that increased water use efficiency was associated with enhanced shoot biomass. Better root length distribution in the deep soil profile (~40-60 cm) and fine root in the shallow soil profile (0.25-0.5 mm diameter) enhanced resource capture and shoot biomass production. Shoot biomass was correlated with root length in the deep profile but not in the shallower profile (<40 cm). Based on beneficial root architecture, shoot biomass, leaf area index, water use efficiency, and seed cotton yield, Station Miller, Paymaster HS26, and PD 2164 were the best genotypes, and Auburn 634RNR was the worst. These contrasting genotypes can be used to incorporate beneficial root traits in breeding programs.

Technical Abstract: Intense selection for lint yield and fiber quality-related traits has imposed a limitation on the attainable yield of modern cotton cultivars, as the root systems fail to support boll growth. Despite the importance, little progress has been made in enhancing cotton root systems. We evaluated a subset of a U.S. cotton diversity panel under field conditions in 2022 and 2023 to identify the root architectural phenotypes that enhance effective water use and aboveground performance. We found that increased water use efficiency (shoot biomass/soil water depletion) of the cotton genotypes was associated with enhanced shoot biomass (correlation coefficient, r, 0.80 in 2022 and 0.96 in 2023). The potential root phenotypes that enhanced resource capture and shoot biomass production were better root length distribution in deep soil profile (~40-60 cm) and fine root (0.25-0.5 mm diameter) production. Shoot biomass was correlated with root length in the deep profile (r, 0.69 in 2022 and 0.45 in 2023) but not in the shallower profile (<40 cm). The root length in the deep profile was also correlated with water use efficiency in the dryer year 2022 (r, 0.45). The cotton root system was dominated by fine roots (46-66% in 2022 and 53-62% in 2023). Based on beneficial root architecture, shoot biomass, leaf area index, water use efficiency, and seed cotton yield, Station Miller, Paymaster HS26, and PD 2164 were the best genotypes, and Auburn 634RNR was the worst. These contrasting genotypes can be used as parents for developing mapping populations and incorporating beneficial root traits in breeding programs.