Abstract: Described herein are methods and materials useful for improving root growth and nutrient uptake in cereal grasses. In particular, present disclosure provides methods for increasing root growth and nutrient uptake in a cereal grass involving marker assisted selection and backcrossing. The present disclosure also provides recombinant DNA for the generation of transgenic plants, transgenic plant cells, and methods of producing the same. The present disclosure also provides materials and methods useful for improving the tolerance of a cereal grass to phosphorus-deficiency The present disclosure further provides methods for generating transgenic seed that can be used to produce a transgenic plant having increased root growth, nutrient uptake, and phosphorus-deficiency tolerance.