{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Root plasticity improves maize nitrogen use when nitrogen is limiting - an analysis using 3D plant modelling.
{Author}: Lu J;Lankhost JA;Stomph TJ;Schneider HM;Chen Y;Mi G;Yuan L;Evers JB;
{Journal}: J Exp Bot
{Volume}: 0
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jul 6
{Factor}: 7.298
{DOI}: 10.1093/jxb/erae298
{Abstract}: Plant phenotypic plasticity plays an important role in nitrogen (N) acquisition and use under nitrogen-limited conditions. However, this role has never been quantified as a function of N availability, leaving it unclear whether plastic responses should be considered as potential targets for selection. A combined modelling and experimentation approach was adopted to quantify the role of plasticity on N uptake and plant yield. Based on a greenhouse experiment we considered plasticity in two maize traits: root-to-leaf biomass allocation ratio and emergence rate of axial roots. In a simulation experiment we individually enabled or disabled both plastic responses for maize stands grown across six N levels. Both plastic responses contributed to maintaining a higher N uptake and plant productivity as N-availability declined, compared to stands in which plastic responses were disabled. We conclude that plastic responses quantified in this study may be a potential target trait in breeding programs for greater N uptake across N levels while it may only be important for the internal use of N under N-limited conditions in maize. Given the complexity of breeding for plastic responses, an a priori model analysis is useful to identify which plastic traits to target for enhanced plant performance.