Variation in Root Traits and Root-Endophyte Interactions in Primary Synthetic Wheat Derived from <i>Aegilops tauschii</i> Collected from Diverse Soil Types
Modern wheat breeding has largely emphasized aboveground traits, often at the expense of belowground characteristics such as root biomass, architecture, and beneficial microbial associations. This has narrowed genetic diversity, impacting traits essential for stress resilience and efficient nutrient...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Ahmed Khaled Hassan Mohammedali Nasrein Mohamed Kamal Yasir Serag Alnor Gorafi Izzat Sidahmed Ali Tahir Hisashi Tsujimoto Takeshi Taniguchi |
| author_facet | Ahmed Khaled Hassan Mohammedali Nasrein Mohamed Kamal Yasir Serag Alnor Gorafi Izzat Sidahmed Ali Tahir Hisashi Tsujimoto Takeshi Taniguchi |
| author_sort | Ahmed Khaled Hassan Mohammedali |
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| description | Modern wheat breeding has largely emphasized aboveground traits, often at the expense of belowground characteristics such as root biomass, architecture, and beneficial microbial associations. This has narrowed genetic diversity, impacting traits essential for stress resilience and efficient nutrient and water acquisition—factors expected to become increasingly critical under climate change. In this study, we evaluated 36 primary synthetic (PS) hexaploid wheat lines developed by crossing <i>Aegilops tauschii</i> with the durum wheat cultivar Langdon (LNG) and compared them with LNG and the hexaploid variety Norin 61 (N61). We observed significant variation in root length, biomass, and associations with fungal endophytes, including beneficial Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and <i>Serendipita indica</i>, and pathogenic <i>Alternaria</i> sp. Clustering analysis based on these traits identified three distinct PS groups: (1) lines with greater root length and biomass, high AMF and <i>S. indica</i> colonization, and low <i>Alternaria</i> infection; (2) lines with intermediate traits; and (3) lines with reduced root traits and high <i>Alternaria</i> susceptibility. Notably, these phenotypic patterns corresponded closely with the soil classification of the <i>Ae. tauschii</i> progenitors’ origin, such as Cambisols (supportive of root growth), and Gleysols and Calcisols (restrictive of root growth). This highlights the soil microenvironment as a key determinant of belowground trait expression. By comparing PS lines with domesticated tetraploid and hexaploid wheat, we identified and selected PS lines derived from diverse <i>Ae. tauschii</i> with enhanced root traits. Our study emphasizes the potential of wild D-genome diversity to restore critical root traits for breeding resilient wheat. |
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| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-fabae6a9af5a4b96bd4c4e7cdb0e38f12025-06-25T13:20:48ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-06-01156144310.3390/agronomy15061443Variation in Root Traits and Root-Endophyte Interactions in Primary Synthetic Wheat Derived from <i>Aegilops tauschii</i> Collected from Diverse Soil TypesAhmed Khaled Hassan Mohammedali0Nasrein Mohamed Kamal1Yasir Serag Alnor Gorafi2Izzat Sidahmed Ali Tahir3Hisashi Tsujimoto4Takeshi Taniguchi5United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences (UGSAS), Tottori University, 4-101, Koyamacho-Minami, Tottori 680-8553, JapanAgricultural Research Corporation (ARC), Wad Medani P.O. Box 126, SudanAgricultural Research Corporation (ARC), Wad Medani P.O. Box 126, SudanAgricultural Research Corporation (ARC), Wad Medani P.O. Box 126, SudanInternational Platform for Dryland Research and Education (IPDRE), Tottori University, Tottori 680-0001, JapanInternational Platform for Dryland Research and Education (IPDRE), Tottori University, Tottori 680-0001, JapanModern wheat breeding has largely emphasized aboveground traits, often at the expense of belowground characteristics such as root biomass, architecture, and beneficial microbial associations. This has narrowed genetic diversity, impacting traits essential for stress resilience and efficient nutrient and water acquisition—factors expected to become increasingly critical under climate change. In this study, we evaluated 36 primary synthetic (PS) hexaploid wheat lines developed by crossing <i>Aegilops tauschii</i> with the durum wheat cultivar Langdon (LNG) and compared them with LNG and the hexaploid variety Norin 61 (N61). We observed significant variation in root length, biomass, and associations with fungal endophytes, including beneficial Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and <i>Serendipita indica</i>, and pathogenic <i>Alternaria</i> sp. Clustering analysis based on these traits identified three distinct PS groups: (1) lines with greater root length and biomass, high AMF and <i>S. indica</i> colonization, and low <i>Alternaria</i> infection; (2) lines with intermediate traits; and (3) lines with reduced root traits and high <i>Alternaria</i> susceptibility. Notably, these phenotypic patterns corresponded closely with the soil classification of the <i>Ae. tauschii</i> progenitors’ origin, such as Cambisols (supportive of root growth), and Gleysols and Calcisols (restrictive of root growth). This highlights the soil microenvironment as a key determinant of belowground trait expression. By comparing PS lines with domesticated tetraploid and hexaploid wheat, we identified and selected PS lines derived from diverse <i>Ae. tauschii</i> with enhanced root traits. Our study emphasizes the potential of wild D-genome diversity to restore critical root traits for breeding resilient wheat.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/6/1443genetic diversityroot lengthroot biomassArbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF)<i>Serendipita indica</i><i>Alternaria</i> |
| spellingShingle | Ahmed Khaled Hassan Mohammedali Nasrein Mohamed Kamal Yasir Serag Alnor Gorafi Izzat Sidahmed Ali Tahir Hisashi Tsujimoto Takeshi Taniguchi Variation in Root Traits and Root-Endophyte Interactions in Primary Synthetic Wheat Derived from <i>Aegilops tauschii</i> Collected from Diverse Soil Types Agronomy genetic diversity root length root biomass Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) <i>Serendipita indica</i> <i>Alternaria</i> |
| title | Variation in Root Traits and Root-Endophyte Interactions in Primary Synthetic Wheat Derived from <i>Aegilops tauschii</i> Collected from Diverse Soil Types |
| title_full | Variation in Root Traits and Root-Endophyte Interactions in Primary Synthetic Wheat Derived from <i>Aegilops tauschii</i> Collected from Diverse Soil Types |
| title_fullStr | Variation in Root Traits and Root-Endophyte Interactions in Primary Synthetic Wheat Derived from <i>Aegilops tauschii</i> Collected from Diverse Soil Types |
| title_full_unstemmed | Variation in Root Traits and Root-Endophyte Interactions in Primary Synthetic Wheat Derived from <i>Aegilops tauschii</i> Collected from Diverse Soil Types |
| title_short | Variation in Root Traits and Root-Endophyte Interactions in Primary Synthetic Wheat Derived from <i>Aegilops tauschii</i> Collected from Diverse Soil Types |
| title_sort | variation in root traits and root endophyte interactions in primary synthetic wheat derived from i aegilops tauschii i collected from diverse soil types |
| topic | genetic diversity root length root biomass Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) <i>Serendipita indica</i> <i>Alternaria</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/6/1443 |
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