Digging for meaningful connections: maize root anatomy and architecture as predictors of rhizosphere microbial diversity

We investigated the association between root anatomical and architectural phenotypes and rhizosphere prokaryotic and fungal communities in 22 maize inbred lines grown under drought and optimal water availability in the field. These datasets report the plant performance data (i.e., shoot biomass, vigor and grain yield) for the genotypes used under the two treatments. Moreover, root anatomical (number of whorls and nodal roots, lateral root branching density, root diameter and angle) and architectural (root cross-section, cortex and stele areas, the ratios between them, living cortex and aerenchyma areas, number of metaxylem vessels and cell files) phenotypes used in this study are reported as well for each sample. Bulk soil phisiochemical properties (e.i., pH, gravimetric water content, total nitrogen and carbon content, mineral nitrogen content, cation exchange capacity and total macro- and micronutrient content) are provided in replicates for each field and treatment.