Anatomical and physiological responses of roots and rhizomes in Oryza longistaminata to soil water gradients

Roots and rhizomes are critical for the adaptation of clonal plants to soil water gradients. Oryza longistaminata, a rhizomatous wild rice, is of particular interest for perennial rice breeding due to its resilience under abiotic stress conditions. While root responses to soil flooding are well-studied, rhizome responses to water gradients remain underexplored. We hypothesize that physiological integration of Oryza longistaminata mitigates heterogeneous water deficit stress through interconnected rhizomes, and both roots and rhizomes respond to contrasting water conditions.