crownroot

Crown root refers to adventitious roots that originate from the crown, the region where the shoot and root systems meet near the soil surface. In many grasses and cereal crops, crown roots arise from crown nodes and are part of the fibrous root system.

Development: Crown root primordia develop in the stem’s basal region and emerge as independent roots from the crown. They grow into soil and often produce lateral roots, increasing the root surface area. They differ from primary taproots, which originate from the seedling’s embryonic root.

Function and ecology: Crown roots provide anchorage and play a major role in water and nutrient uptake, especially in shallow or flooded soils. In crops such as rice and maize, a dense crown root network supports rapid establishment and stability under field conditions.

Regulation and breeding: Crown root initiation is influenced by plant hormones, notably auxin, and can be affected by environmental cues such as flooding or soil oxygen status. Some breeding programs seek to optimize crown root traits—such as number, depth, and distribution—to improve nutrient uptake efficiency and drought tolerance.

Examples and diversity: Crown roots are common in many monocots, including rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), and sugarcane (Saccharum species). Variations among genotypes and growing conditions yield differences in root thickness, length, and branching.