Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol.16, No.5, 230-236 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/tgg 231 (Manschadi et al., 2008; Richard et al., 2015). During drought, the ratio of wheat roots to leaves will increase, and the internal structure of the roots will also change, which means that the roots will change their morphology according to the environment (Figure 1) (Chen et al., 2021). Figure 1 Morphology and structure of wheat roots under drought stress (Adopted from Chen et al., 2021) Image caption: (A) Morphology of wheat roots. (B-C) Microstructure of YM13 root cross section under control condition and drought stress. (D-E) Microstructure of YN19 root cross section under control condition and drought stress. CC, control condition; Co, cortex; DS, drought stress; Ph, phloem; VC, vascular cylinder; XV, xylem vessel. Scale bars: (A) 8 cm, (B-E) 50 µm (Adopted from Chen et al., 2021) 2.2 Role of roots in water and nutrient uptake Roots are the main tool for plants to absorb water and nutrients, especially when there is a lack of water. If the roots grow deep and are densely distributed, the plant can absorb water from deeper soil, which will make it more drought-resistant (Khodaee et al., 2021). Root length density, wood thickness and total root surface area directly affect the efficiency of water and fertilizer absorption. The better these characteristics are, the better the crop can ensure yield and quality under difficult conditions (Li et al., 2021; Cheng et al., 2024). Now many gene loci (QTLs) related to these traits have been found, which are very useful for breeding and can help us select more drought-resistant wheat. 2.3 Interactions between roots and soil microorganisms Wheat roots and soil microorganisms will affect each other. The roots secrete some substances that attract beneficial microorganisms to gather together to form a good rhizosphere environment. This microbial community helps to improve the efficiency of nutrient absorption and enhance wheat resistance (Alrajhi et al., 2024). Now, with the advancement of root phenotyping technology and molecular technology, we know more about this interaction. It can be said that roots are not only tools for absorbing water and fertilizer, but also help establish a microbial circle that is important for crop health, which is increasingly valued in adapting to harsh environments. 3 Classification and Features of Tillage Practices 3.1 Comparison of conventional tillage and no-tillage Traditional tillage (CT) generally involves deep tillage, using plows and harrows to turn the soil, and also turning the straw in the ground into the soil. Although this method is common, it will destroy the soil structure. No-tillage (NT) is different. It tries not to move the soil, leaving the straw from the previous season on the surface to maintain the original soil state. This method helps to maintain soil structure, increase organic matter, and make the
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