Root System Architecture and Salt Stress Responses in Cereal Crops

Abstract

Cereal crops are cultivated across diverse regions globally, facing numerous environmental challenges, with salinity posing a significant threat to their growth and productivity. Plants respond to salinity stress (SS) through various morphological and physiological mechanisms. Notably, root system architecture (RSA) has emerged as a crucial factor in aiding nutrient uptake and ensuring efficient water supply, reshaping plant responses, particularly under SS. However, assessing and visualizing RSA and growth patterns in different crops is more challenging than aboveground parts, often leading to neglect in research. Roots serve a dual role in SS: preventing Na⁺ (sodium) uptake from soil and its accumulation into shoots. This review highlights the impact of SS on remodeling RSA, encompassing phenology, cytology, and genetic regulation. It offers comprehensive insights into root architecture, functionalities, hormonal crosstalk, and agronomic strategies tailored for cereals crops. These insights aim to optimize resource capture, mitigate Na⁺ uptake—known to reduce yield in saline conditions—and explore potential avenues for engineering roots to circumvent SS.