PhD defence by Arnesta Odone
Deep rooting for water stress tolerance and nitrogen uptake in winter wheat
The significance of deep roots in agricultural systems is often underestimated, yet they have important potential for deep water uptake, particularly in the face of increasing weather variations and heightened water stress. Deep roots not only facilitate the uptake of water but also have potential for reducing nitrogen leaching losses and enhancing nitrogen use efficiency. However, the study of deep roots has been relatively undervalued. Traditional methods for root investigation are often invasive and laborious, or limited to small-scale studies. Consequently, there is a pressing need for innovative techniques that allow for non-destructive and field-scale assessment of root systems. Recent advancements, such as the use of isotopes as proxies, offer promising for better understanding root function, particularly when verified with technologies like minirhizotrons.
The objective of this thesis was to investigate the role of deep rooting in nitrogen and water uptake, using minirhizotron imaging and stable isotopes to trace nitrogen uptake and water stress dynamics throughout crop development. Additionally, the study aimed to compare deep root methods from small-scale to field-scale. The findings show that there are genotypic differences in deep rooting, and a significant role of deep roots in water uptake and N uptake, highlighting the potential for including deep roots as a breeding target. The study demonstrates the variability of root-soil interactions across different locations and environmental conditions, and contributes to a deeper understanding of root development and function, and interactions with nitrogen and water use.
Assessment Committee:
Dorte Bodin Dresbøll, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences,
University of Copenhagen
Oorbessy Gaju, Institute for Agri-Food Technology, University of Lincoln
Jim Rasmussen, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University
Supervisors:
Kristian Thorup-Kristensen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
University of Copenhagen
Time & venue:
Thursday 16 May 2024 at 13:00
A8-18.02, Højbakkegård Allé 13, 2630 Taastrup
The defence will be followed by a reception