Zhang Yanjun, Wu Xi, Wang Xingrong, Dai Mingqiu, Peng Yunling
College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; Crop Research Institute, Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Innovation in Northwest Cold and Arid Regions, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China.
National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
J Genet Genomics. 2025 Jan;52(1):4-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.05.001. Epub 2024 May 8.
Drought is a natural disaster that profoundly impacts on global agricultural production, significantly reduces crop yields, and thereby poses a severe threat to worldwide food security. Addressing the challenge of effectively improving crop drought resistance (DR) to mitigate yield loss under drought conditions is a global issue. An optimal root system architecture (RSA) plays a pivotal role in enhancing the capacity of crops to efficiently uptake water and nutrients, which consequently strengthens their resilience against environmental stresses. In this review, we discuss the compositions and roles of crop RSA and summarize the most recent developments in augmenting drought tolerance in crops by manipulating RSA-related genes. Based on the current research, we propose the potential optimal RSA configuration that could be helpful in enhancing crop DR. Lastly, we discuss the existing challenges and future directions for breeding crops with enhanced DR capabilities through genetic improvements targeting RSA.
干旱是一种自然灾害，对全球农业生产产生深远影响，显著降低作物产量，从而对全球粮食安全构成严重威胁。应对有效提高作物抗旱性以减轻干旱条件下产量损失这一挑战是一个全球性问题。优化的根系结构在增强作物有效吸收水分和养分的能力方面起着关键作用，从而增强其对环境胁迫的抵御能力。在本综述中，我们讨论了作物根系结构的组成和作用，并总结了通过操纵与根系结构相关的基因来提高作物耐旱性的最新进展。基于当前的研究，我们提出了可能有助于增强作物抗旱性的潜在最佳根系结构配置。最后，我们讨论了通过针对根系结构的遗传改良培育具有更强抗旱能力作物所面临的现有挑战和未来方向。
