Changes in Root Anatomy of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under Different Durations of Early Season Drought

Changes in the anatomical structure of peanut roots due to early season drought will likely affect the water acquiring capacity of the root system. Yet, as important as these changes are likely to be in conferring drought resistance, they have not been thoroughly investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different durations of drought on the root anatomy of peanut in response to early season drought. Plants of peanut genotype ICGV 98305 were grown in rhizoboxes with an internal dimension of 50 cm in width, 10 cm in thickness and 120 cm in height. Fourteen days after emergence, water was withheld for periods of 0, 7, 14 or 21 days. After these drought periods, the first and second order roots from 0-20 cm below soil surface were sampled for anatomical observation. The mean xylem vessel diameter of first- order lateral roots was higher than that of second- order lateral roots. Under early season drought stress root anatomy changes were more pronounced in the longer drought period treatments. Twenty-one days after imposing water stress, the drought treatment and irrigated treatment were clearly different in diameter, number and area of xylem vessels of first- and second-order lateral roots. Plants under drought conditions had a smaller diameter and area of xylem vessels than did the plants under irrigated control. The ability of plants to change root anatomy likely improves water uptake and transport and this may be an important mechanism for drought tolerance. The information will be useful for the selection of drought durations for evaluation of root anatomy related to drought resistance and the selection of key traits for drought resistance.