Genome-wide association study reveals influence of cell-specific gene networks on Soybean root system architecture

Abstract

Abstract Root system architecture (RSA), the three-dimensional arrangement of roots in soil, is a critical determinant of plant productivity, resource use efficiency, and resilience to environmental stress. Despite its agronomic importance, RSA remains a largely untapped breeding target due to historical technical barriers in root phenotyping. We present RADICYL (Root Architecture 3D Cylinder), a scalable, non-invasive, gel-based platform enabling high-throughput, high-resolution quantification of 15 RSA traits in intact root systems. Applying RADICYL to a genetically diverse panel of 371 soybean accessions, we combined 3D phenotyping with genome-wide association studies (GWAS), single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq), and gene co-expression network (GCN) analysis to identify RCE1 and NPR3 as central regulators of RSA, suggesting auxin and salicylic acid-mediated signaling impacts RSA in specific root tissues. Functional validation in Arabidopsis mutants revealed conserved effects on root width and lateral root development. Our findings position the endodermis and metaphloem as key regulatory cell types and demonstrate how multi-omic frameworks can accelerate the discovery of functional genes underlying complex traits. This study establishes a foundation for cell-type-targeted genome editing and climate-smart crop engineering, offering actionable genetic targets to optimize root systems for improved nutrient acquisition, drought resilience, and deep carbon sequestration. By bridging genotype, cellular context, and phenotype, this work redefines RSA as a tractable and transformative trait for the future of crop improvement.

Plant phenotyping relevance

RADICYLという根系構造を定量化する高スループット3Dフェノタイピング基盤の開発・適用が研究の中心であり、15形質を測定している。

Code and data availability

The paper's Data and code availability section names public repositories containing the authors' analysis code: a GitLab repo for WGCNA/single-cell network analysis, a GitHub repo for the RADICYL root image segmentation/phenotyping pipeline, and PyGNA2 on PyPI/GitLab. These are paper-specific, publicly actionable code/