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Maize brace root mechanics vary by whorl, genotype, and reproductive stage

View ORCID ProfileAshley N. Hostetler, View ORCID ProfileLindsay Erndwein, Elahe Ganji, Jonathan W. Reneau, View ORCID ProfileMegan L. Killian, View ORCID ProfileErin E. Sparks
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/547794
Ashley N. Hostetler
1Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
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Lindsay Erndwein
1Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
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Elahe Ganji
2Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
3Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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Jonathan W. Reneau
1Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
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Megan L. Killian
3Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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Erin E. Sparks
1Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
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  • For correspondence: esparks@udel.edu
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ABSTRACT

Root lodging is responsible for significant crop losses world-wide. During root lodging, roots fail by breaking, buckling, or pulling out of the ground. In maize, above-ground roots, called brace roots, have been shown to reduce root lodging susceptibility. However, the underlying structural-functional properties of brace roots that prevent root lodging are poorly defined. In this study, we quantified structural mechanical properties, geometry, and bending moduli for brace roots from different whorls, genotypes, and reproductive stages. Using 3-point bend tests, we show that brace root mechanics are variable by whorl, genotype, and reproductive stage. Generally, we find that within each genotype and reproductive stage, the brace roots from the whorl closest to the ground had higher structural mechanical properties and a lower bending modulus than brace roots from the second whorl. There was additional variation between genotypes and reproductive stages. Specifically, genotypes with higher structural mechanical properties also had a higher bending modulus, and senesced brace roots had lower structural mechanical properties than hydrated brace roots. Collectively these results highlight the importance of considering whorl-of-origin, genotype, and reproductive stage for quantification of brace root mechanics, which is important for mitigating crop loss due to root mechanical failure.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Footnotes

  • Author email addresses: ahende{at}udel.edu, erndwein{at}udel.edu, elaganji{at}udel.edu, jreneau{at}udel.edu, mlkillia{at}umich.edu

  • This manuscript has been revised with updated analyses and conclusions.

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY 4.0 International license.
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Posted January 03, 2022.
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Maize brace root mechanics vary by whorl, genotype, and reproductive stage
Ashley N. Hostetler, Lindsay Erndwein, Elahe Ganji, Jonathan W. Reneau, Megan L. Killian, Erin E. Sparks
bioRxiv 547794; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/547794
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Maize brace root mechanics vary by whorl, genotype, and reproductive stage
Ashley N. Hostetler, Lindsay Erndwein, Elahe Ganji, Jonathan W. Reneau, Megan L. Killian, Erin E. Sparks
bioRxiv 547794; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/547794

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