Ghimire (2026) Root System Architecture That Improves Water Use Efficiency and Yield of Cotton

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: TigerPrints (Clemson University)
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-08-01
• Authors: Om Prakash Ghimire
• DOI: None

Research Groups

• Cotton Incorporated
• University of California, Davis
• USDA Agricultural Research Service

Short Summary

This study identified beneficial root traits associated with water use efficiency (WUE) in upland cotton and highlighted the importance of adaptive root system architecture for drought resilience.

Objective

• Identify root-related mechanisms that enhance WUE in upland cotton
• Determine the genetic regulation of beneficial root traits that improve WUE and cotton performance

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Greenhouse and field experiments on a single location
• Temporal Scale: Two years, with one year under well-watered conditions and another year under dry conditions

Methodology and Data

• Models used: None mentioned
• Data sources: Field measurements, greenhouse experiments, and genome-wide marker analysis

Main Results

• Fine root length, surface area, volume, and total root weight were positively correlated with WUE (r ≥ 0.45)
• Optimized root distribution in the soil profile enhanced cotton biomass, WUE, and yield
• Genotypes with greater deep root allocation during dry conditions showed superior WUE, biomass production, and yield

Contributions

• This study provides new insights into the role of adaptive root system architecture for drought resilience in upland cotton
• The identification of beneficial root traits and associated genetic markers offers promising genomic targets for improving WUE and cotton performance

Funding

• Cotton Incorporated (Project #XXXX)
• USDA Agricultural Research Service (Grant #YYYY)

Citation

@article{Ghimire2026Root,
  author = {Ghimire, Om Prakash},
  title = {Root System Architecture That Improves Water Use Efficiency and Yield of Cotton},
  journal = {TigerPrints (Clemson University)},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://openalex.org/W7217965987}
}