Root traits confer grain yield advantages under terminal drought in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

This study by Ramamoorthy et al. showed that survival of plants under drought conditions is not a sufficient goal for breeding. Rather,  yield for biomass and food production under water deficit is a better target. Chickpea genotypes having better root growth and higher root density showed better grain filling, and produced good yields in these studies.  Some of the genotypes showed proper grain filling with better partition of photosynthates because of higher root density at deeper layers and higher root length at surface. (Summary by Sridhar Gutam)  Field Crops Res. 10.1016/j.fcr.2016.11.004 (Thumbnail image source Carl Davies, CSIRO)