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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Genotypic differences in phosphorus acquisition efficiency and root performance of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) under low-phosphorus stress

Bolang Chen https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4281-3486 A , Qinghui Wang B , Heike Bücking C , Jiandong Sheng A E , Jia Luo A , Zhongping Chai A , Arjun Kafle C , Yinying Hou A and Gu Feng D E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A College of Grassland and Environmental Sciences, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Soil and Plant Ecological Processes, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830052, China.

B Agricultural Mechanisation Institute, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830091, China.

C Biology and Microbiology Department, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.

D College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.

E Corresponding author. Email: sjd_2004@126.com; fenggu@cau.edu.cn

Crop and Pasture Science 70(4) 344-358 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP18324
Submitted: 3 July 2018  Accepted: 10 March 2019   Published: 20 April 2019

Abstract

Low availability of phosphorus (P) is a major constraint to production of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The extent to which genotypic variation in root traits exists or contributes to P-acquisition efficiency (PAE) in cotton is unknown. To assess genetic variation in PAE, the biomass and P-acquisition characteristics of 32 cotton genotypes were evaluated in a hydroponic experiment. Significant genotypic variation in biomass and P content was detected among the cotton genotypes in two seasons. We then conducted a 2-year pot experiment to compare P-efficiency traits between three P-efficient and two P-inefficient genotypes under P-deficient and P-sufficient conditions (0 and 75 mg P2O5 kg–1 soil, respectively). We detected significant differences in biomass accumulation and allocation, P accumulation and allocation, root traits and PAE among the five cotton genotypes under P-sufficient and P-deficient conditions. Compared with P-inefficient genotypes, P-efficient genotypes had longer surface fine roots, and greater total root surface area, total root length, surface root length, and P concentration (partitioning index) in bolls. Root morphology, especially surface fine root length and middle root length, played an important role in P uptake under P-deficient conditions.

Additional keywords: acid phosphatase, biomass partitioning, harvest index, principle component analysis.


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