Combined effect of S-type lateral root development and localized P application for increasing P uptake of lowland rice

Both root morphology and fertilizer management play critical roles in increasing phosphorus (P) use efficiency. However, their interaction under flooded rice cultivation has been little understood. A mutant of our1 gene and its wild type, Kimmaze (WT), which show different lateral root development patterns, were grown in flooded pots after uniformly incorporating P (Pinco) or placing the same amount of P by spot (Ploc). The Ploc increased the initial P uptake and biomass of WT in greater degrees than our1. The positive combination of WT and Ploc is associated with the enhanced development of S-type lateral and nodal roots around the P-localized zone in the top and middle soil layers that did not occur for our1. The study implies that P fertilizer use efficiency can be improved further by combining localized P application and root phenotypes that can induce nodal and S-type lateral root development in the P-enriched zone.