Jiahua Chen , Wei Wang

Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Soil Biology, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 6   doi: 10.5376/msb.2024.15.0026
Received: 15 Sep., 2024    Accepted: 23 Oct., 2024    Published: 08 Nov., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Chen J.H., and Wang W., 2024, Review of maize root development and soil adaptation, Molecular Soil Biology, 15(6): 256-268 (doi: 10.5376/msb.2024.15.0026)

In agricultural production, the development of maize roots is not only related to yield, but also constrained by various external factors such as drought, soil compaction, and nutrient scarcity. It has found that the response ability and adaptation mode of roots vary significantly in different environments. For example, some corn varieties naturally elongate their main roots when facing drought, rather than simply branching and expanding. From a genetic perspective, behind the morphological changes in the root system, there is actually a complex set of genetic regulatory mechanisms at play. Although corn roots have strong environmental adaptability, without a reasonable cultivation system and scientific fertilization strategy, this potential may not be fully realized. In areas with poor soil conditions such as central Malawi, some practices based on genetic improvement, combined with local agricultural management methods, have significantly improved corn production. During the research process, it is attempted to understand the performance of roots under adversity from multiple perspectives, hoping to provide a new reference perspective for corn breeders and agricultural technicians. Rather than coming to a single conclusion, it is more like sorting out a logical chain that is closer to the reality in the field.

Maize root development; Soil constraints; Genetic mechanisms; Adaptive mechanisms; Agricultural practices