Crop selection and breeding has influenced plant phenotypes and genotypes. The necessary selection and breeding steps which resulted in today's cultivated plants have greatly reduced plant genetic diversity. Genetic bottlenecks in plant populations are thought to be a direct result of modern breeding programs. This study used a custom root phenotyping platform to characterize root system architecture (RSA) parameters in a diverse panel of winter wheat released between 1803 and 2002. Cultivars were grown in P-deficient phytagel and images captured through 360° using light tomography. RSA parameters were measured using GiA Roots software. Network length, width, surface area, and volume differed between old cultivars and both intermediate and modern cultivars. RSA did not vary between intermediate and modern cultivars. Growth rates of old cultivars were two times greater than both intermediate and modern cultivars regardless of dwarfing status. These results support the idea that plant breeding has had unintended effects on winter wheat root systems. The reduction of root system size and growth rates with increased year of release may have important implications for further breeding work related to nutrient use, drought tolerance, and C-sequestration. The faster root growth of older cultivars may also provide a breeding target for developing plants that establish and respond to stress faster, potentially improving crop resilience.

作物选择和育种影响了植物表型和基因型。导致今天栽培植物的必要选择和育种步骤大大降低了植物遗传多样性。植物种群的遗传瓶颈被认为是现代育种计划的直接结果。本研究使用定制的根表型平台来表征 1803 年至 2002 年间发布的多种冬小麦的根系结构 (RSA) 参数。栽培品种在缺磷植物胶中生长，并使用光断层扫描技术通过 360° 捕获图像。使用 GiA Roots 软件测量 RSA 参数。老品种与中、现代品种的网络长度、宽度、表面积和体积不同。RSA 在中间品种和现代品种之间没有变化。无论矮化状态如何，老品种的生长速度都是中间品种和现代品种的两倍。这些结果支持植物育种对冬小麦根系产生意外影响的观点。随着释放年份的增加，根系大小和生长速率的减小可能对与养分利用、耐旱性和碳封存相关的进一步育种工作产生重要影响。较老品种的根系生长速度更快，也可能为开发能够更快地建立和应对压力的植物提供育种目标，从而有可能提高作物的恢复力。随着释放年份的增加，根系大小和生长速率的减小可能对与养分利用、耐旱性和碳封存相关的进一步育种工作产生重要影响。较老品种的根系生长速度更快，也可能为开发能够更快地建立和应对压力的植物提供育种目标，从而有可能提高作物的恢复力。随着释放年份的增加，根系大小和生长速率的减小可能对与养分利用、耐旱性和碳封存相关的进一步育种工作产生重要影响。较老品种的根系生长速度更快，也可能为开发能够更快地建立和应对压力的植物提供育种目标，从而有可能提高作物的恢复力。