Phosphorus uptake efficiency, root morphology and architecture in Brazilian wheat cultivars

The main aims of this study were to evaluate the P uptake of Brazilian wheat cultivars and to identify the root traits involved in P uptake capacity. Two greenhouse studies were carried out. An isotopic dilution technique with 32P as a tracer was used in the first experiment. The root morphology and architecture was evaluated in the second experiment. The results indicated differences in P uptake between the cultivars. The cultivars with higher values of P uptake exhibited total root shallow, which enhances root proliferation in P-rich surface soil. Twenty-one cultivars showed potentially greater phosphorus uptake efficiency, and we observed the importance of root traits for improving the P uptake ability.