Data_Sheet_1_Variation in Root-Related Traits Is Associated With Water Uptake in Lagenaria siceraria Genotypes Under Water-Deficit Conditions.xlsx

In many agricultural areas, crop production has decreased due to a lack of water availability, which is having a negative impact on sustainability and putting food security at risk. In plants, the plasticity of the root system architecture (RSA) is considered to be a key trait driving the modification of the growth and structure of roots in response to water deficits. The purpose of this study was to examine the plasticity of the RSA traits (mean root diameter, MRD; root volume, RV; root length, RL; and root surface area, SA) associated with drought tolerance in eight Lagenaria siceraria (Mol. Standl) genotypes, representing three different geographical origins: South Africa (BG-58, BG-78, and GC), Asia (Philippines and South Korea), and Chile (Illapel, Chepica, and Osorno). The RSA changes were evaluated at four substrate depths (from 0 to 40 cm). Bottle gourd genotypes were grown in 20 L capacity pots under two contrasting levels of irrigation (well-watered and water-deficit conditions). The results showed that the water productivity (WP) had a significant effect on plasticity values, with the Chilean accessions having the highest values. Furthermore, Illapel and Chepica genotypes presented the highest WP, MRD, and RV values under water-deficit conditions, in which MRD and RV were significant in the deeper layers (20–30 and 30–40 cm). Biplot analysis showed that the Illapel and Chepica genotypes presented a high WP, MRD, and RV, which confirmed that these may be promising drought-tolerant genotypes. Consequently, increased root diameter and volume in bottle gourd may constitute a response to a water deficit. The RSA traits studied here can be used as selection criteria in bottle gourd breeding programs under water-deficit conditions.

在众多农业区域，由于水资源短缺，作物产量有所下降，这对可持续性产生了负面影响，并威胁到了粮食安全。在植物中，根系结构塑性（RSA）被认为是一种关键特性，它驱动着植物对水分缺乏的适应，从而改变根系的生长和结构。本研究旨在探讨八种瓜类（Lagenaria siceraria Mol. Standl）基因型与干旱耐受性相关的RSA特性（平均根直径，MRD；根体积，RV；根长，RL；以及根表面积，SA）的塑性。这八种基因型分别来自三个不同的地理起源：南非（BG-58，BG-78，和GC）、亚洲（菲律宾和韩国），以及智利（伊拉佩尔，切皮卡，和奥斯诺）。在四种不同的基质深度（从0到40厘米）下评估了RSA的变化。在20升容量的盆栽中，以两种对比的灌溉水平（充分灌溉和水分缺乏条件）培育了瓜类基因型。结果显示，水分生产力（WP）对塑性值有显著影响，智利基因型具有最高的值。此外，在水分缺乏条件下，伊拉佩尔和切皮卡基因型表现出最高的WP、MRD和RV值，其中MRD和RV在深层（20-30和30-40厘米）中表现显著。双图分析表明，伊拉佩尔和切皮卡基因型具有高WP、MRD和RV，这证实了这些基因型可能具有潜在的耐旱性。因此，瓜类中根直径和体积的增加可能是对水分缺乏的一种响应。本研究中研究的RSA特性可以作为在水分缺乏条件下瓜类育种计划中的选择标准。