Distinctive plasticity of maize (Zea mays) root types to variable nitrate concentration

Abstract

Maize roots vary their growth in response to nitrate ([Formula: see text]) concentration in the environment, but growth plasticity differs among root types. We assessed the morphological response of lateral and axial roots on the primary, seminal, and crown root types exposed to 0, 1, 2, 3.9, and 7.8 mmol L−1 [Formula: see text]. Higher [Formula: see text] concentration did not change the growth of all axial roots and laterals of primary roots but caused positive quadratic growth in laterals of the seminal and crown root types. Maize root plasticity to [Formula: see text] concentrations is the result of differential growth of laterals on seminal and crown root types.