Abstract
Root and shoot development of two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars with different genetic backgrounds was studied with reference to their relative growth. Tongil type (indica-japonica hybrid) cultivar 'Kuemkangbyeo' and japonica cultivar 'Koshihikari' were grown in $5000^{-1}$ a Wagnar pots under flooded condition. Three plants with roots of both cultivars were taken in every phyllochron through the heading stage to record morphological characteristics of shoot and root system. Compared to Koshihikari, Kuemkangbyeo produced more tillers and had greater shoot weight and leaf area per hill. Length and weight of the root system in both cultivars increased exponentially with time. At the same time, root system development was significantly faster in Kuemkangbyeo than in Koshihikari after the panicle initiation stage. As a result, Kuemkangbyeo has a vigorous root system which consists of larger number of nodal roots compared to Koshihikari. Also, the root length and weight per unit leaf area of Kuemkangbyeo were larger than those of Koshihikari in the later half of growing period, which suggests possible higher physiological activity of the root system of Kuemkangbyeo which is known as a high-yielding cultivar. The relationship between root traits (crown root number, total root length, and root dry weight) and shoot traits (leaf area and leaf+culm dry weight) in both cultivars closely showed allometry until the flag leaf stage.