Linking root length and surface area to yield: variety-specific root plasticity in winter wheat across contrasting European environments

Abstract

Understanding the relationship of root traits and crop performance under varying environmental conditions facilitates the exploitation of root characteristics in breeding and variety testing to maintain crop yields under climate change. Therefore, we (1) evaluated differences in root length and surface area between ten winter wheat varieties grown at 11 sites in Europe covering a large pedoclimatic gradient, (2) quantified differences in root response to soil, climate and management conditions between varieties, and (3) evaluated variety-specific relationships of grain yield and root length and surface area under diverse environmental conditions.