Growth and Function of Root Systems

Flowering plants have diverse root systems consisting of roots with a variety of structures and fulfilling many functions in soil. The architecture of the root system affects the accessibility of water and nutrients, and also the anchorage of the whole plant. Many chemical signals act to coordinate the growth and activity of the root and shoot systems so that the same plant species can look quite different in different environments. The depth of rooting is important in crop systems particularly in drought-prone areas. Root systems are managed in several ways to increase crop productivity including through the use of rootstocks and intercrops, and the selection of species that can grow in hostile soils. Ideotypes for different environments, together with breeding, offer opportunities for optimizing the use of soil resources to produce crops.