Some adventitious roots or anchor roots emerge two or three nodes above the soil surface; in some maize cultivars they can also develop in a greater number of nodes.
▶ Biologically, the main function of these roots is to keep the plant erect and prevent it from tipping over under normal conditions. It is now believed that these roots also collaborate in the absorption of water and nutrients.
Different maize genotypes show marked differences in their root system in terms of habit, root mass, number of branches per unit length and lateral spread of roots Because of the difficulties encountered in the study of the invisible and subway root system, genetic differences in the maize root system have not been adequately studied and exploited.
In the development of germplasm tolerant to acid soils, variability in plant root length has been used to select genotypes tolerant to nutrient solutions and in greenhouse pots, the root anatomy of maize has been extensively described.
Maize genotypes that have or can develop some type of aerenchyma with hydrophilic-like intercellular spaces in their roots may be able to survive under excessive amounts of water.
