Widespread invasion by Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) in the Intermountain West has drastically altered native plant communities. We investigated whether Elymus multisetus (big squirreltail) is evolving in response to invasion and what traits contribute to increased performance. Seedlings from invaded areas exhibited significantly greater tolerance to B. tectorum competition and a greater ability...

Drought escape and dehydration avoidance represent alternative strategies for drought adaptation in annual crops. The mechanisms underlying these two strategies are reported to have a negative correlation, suggesting a trade-off. We conducted a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of flowering time and root mass, traits representing each strategy, in Brassica napus to understand if a trade-o...

abiotic stresses and lack of nutrients are one of the most important factors in reducing the crop yield.  vigorous and developed roots can facilitate uptake of water and nutrients more efficiently making it essential for enhancing the yield. association mapping is currently one of the approaches for detecting quantitative trait loci (qtls) influencing complex traits. this approach was used to d...

In the last decade cheaper and faster sequencing methods have resulted in an enormous increase in genomic data. High throughput genotyping, genotyping by sequencing and genomic breeding are becoming a standard in plant breeding. As a result, the collection of phenotypic data is increasingly becoming a limiting factor in plant breeding. Genetic studies on root traits are being hampered by the co...

The fact that plant-trait and functionaltrait syndromes can describe plant growth strategies, and as a result their ecological requirements, has gained considerable importance in ecology (Grime et al., 1997; Westoby et al., 2002). At the global scale, the existence of a major axis of specialization among plants has been determined by measuring leaf functional traits; this axis highlights a fund...

The effect of domestication and modern breeding on aboveground traits in maize (Zea mays) has been well-characterized, but the impact on root systems and the rhizosphere remain unclear. The transition from wild ecosystems to modern agriculture has focused on selecting traits that yielded the largest aboveground production with increasing levels of crop management and nutrient inputs. Root morph...