Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol.16, No.5, 230-236 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/tgg 230 Review and Progress Open Access Effects of Different Tillage Practices on Root Development and Drought Resistance in Wheat Xingzhu Feng Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China Corresponding email: xingzhu.feng@hibio.org Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol.16, No.5 doi: 10.5376/tgg.2025.16.0025 Received: 28 Aug., 2025 Accepted: 10 Oct., 2025 Published: 28 Oct., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Feng, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Feng X.Z., 2025, Effects of different tillage practices on root development and drought resistance in wheat, Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 16(5): 230-236 (doi: 10.5376/tgg.2025.16.0025) Abstract Tillage methods have an important impact on soil structure, wheat root morphology and crop resistance to abiotic stress. This study systematically analyzed the regulatory effects of different tillage methods such as conventional tillage, no-tillage and minimum tillage on wheat root development and drought resistance. By comparing indicators such as field performance, root structure and physiological response under drought stress, the key mechanisms by which tillage methods affect wheat adaptability and yield were revealed. The results showed that conservation tillage helps deepen root growth, improve water absorption efficiency, and significantly enhance crop drought resistance. This study analyzed the key mechanisms by which tillage methods affect wheat adaptability and stress resistance through root-soil-water interactions, clarified the ecological advantages of conservation tillage in enhancing crop drought resistance and resource utilization efficiency, and provided a theoretical basis and technical support for sustainable agricultural development in the context of climate change. Keywords Wheat; Tillage methods; Root development; Drought resistance; Conservation tillage 1 Introduction Drought is a major problem affecting wheat production. As climate change becomes more and more evident, water shortages are becoming more common and more severe in major wheat-producing areas, such as the Mediterranean region, the North China Plain, and some semi-arid regions (Guan et al., 2015; Peng et al., 2019; Madejón et al., 2024). This water shortage may get worse in the future and may affect food security. To ensure stable wheat production, we have to find ways to make it more drought-resistant. The root system of wheat is the key to absorbing water and nutrients. Especially in drought, root length, root density, and root vitality directly affect whether wheat can absorb water from deep in the soil (Muñoz-Romero et al., 2010; Huang et al., 2012). Different tillage methods have different effects on the root system. Conservation tillage and no-tillage can make roots grow deeper and more active, and the soil has better water retention capacity, while traditional tillage does not have these advantages (Hobson et al., 2022; Du et al., 2023). This study investigated the effects of different tillage practices on wheat root development and drought resistance, compared root growth parameters and water use efficiency under different tillage systems, evaluated the effects of tillage-induced root optimization on wheat yield and drought resistance, and provided tillage management recommendations to improve wheat productivity under climate-induced water stress and develop sustainable wheat production strategies in response to climate change. 2. Root Development Characteristics in Wheat 2.1 Morphological construction and growth stage characteristics of roots Wheat roots are mainly composed of seminal roots and lateral roots. The length, number, angle and surface area of roots vary greatly depending on the variety and growth time. Some varieties grow roots very fast in the early growth stage, with many and long seminal roots, which is usually associated with high yield and late maturity (Xie et al., 2017; Adeleke et al., 2020). The angle and distribution of seminal roots are also critical because it determines how much soil the plant can explore, which is particularly important for adapting to drought
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==