Early-Stage Phenotyping of Root Traits Provides Insights into the Drought Tolerance Level of Soybean Cultivars

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) may contribute to the agro-ecological transition of cropping systems in Europe, but its productivity is severely affected by summer drought. New drought-avoidance strategies, such as early sowing, require cultivars with high plant growth under suboptimal conditions. This study aims at phenotyping early-stage root and shoot traits 10 commonly grown Europe. Cultivars were minirhizotrons two soil moisture status controlled Root evaluated days after sowing. Field was also analyzed conventional sowing dates. A significant intraspecific variability (p < 0.05) found for most investigated morpho-physiological regardless However, no difference among > terms architectural that mainly water stress. Total length positively correlated dry matter 0.05). Under field conditions, differences between expressed canopy cover emergence, which determines subsequent dynamics. The not related maturity group. characterized depth length, density narrow angle could be considered good candidates cope stress via better exploration. agronomic strategies mobilizing diversity thus tested improve soybean use efficiency response climate change.