scholarly journals Installation and imaging of thousands of minirhizotrons to phenotype root systems of field-grown plants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashish Rajurkar ◽  
Scott McCoy ◽  
Jeremy Ruhter ◽  
Jessica Mulcrone ◽  
Luke Freyfogle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
System Size ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Single Experiment ◽  
Camera Systems ◽  
Root System Size

Background: Roots are vital to plant performance because they acquire resources from the soil and provide anchorage. However, it remains difficult to assess root system size and distribution because roots are inaccessible in the soil. Existing methods to phenotype entire root systems range from slow, often destructive, methods applied to relatively small numbers of plants in the field to rapid methods that can be applied to large numbers of plants in controlled environment conditions. Much has been learned recently by extensive sampling of the root crown portion of field-grown plants. But, information on large-scale genetic and environmental variation in the size and distribution of root systems in the field remains a key knowledge gap. Minirhizotrons are the only established, non-destructive technology that can address this need in a standard field trial. Prior experiments have used only modest numbers of minirhizotrons, which has limited testing to small numbers of genotypes or environmental conditions. This study addressed the need for methods to install and collect images from thousands of minirhizotrons and thereby help break the phenotyping bottleneck in the field. Results: Over three growing seasons, methods were developed and refined to install and collect images from up to3038 minirhizotrons per experiment. Modifications were made to four tractors and hydraulic soil corers mounted to them. High quality installation was achieved at an average rate of up to 84.4 minirhizotron tubes per tractor per day. A set of four commercially available minirhizotron camera systems were each transported by wheelbarrow to allow collection of images of mature maize root systems at an average rate of up to 65.3 tubes per day per camera. This resulted in over 300,000 images being collected in as little as 11 days for a single experiment. Conclusion: The scale of minirhizotron installation was increased by two orders of magnitude by simultaneously using four tractor-mounted, hydraulic soil corers with modifications to ensure high quality, rapid operation. Image collection can be achieved at the corresponding scale using commercially available minirhizotron camera systems. Along with recent advances in image analysis, these advances will allow use of minirhizotrons at unprecedented scale to address key knowledge gaps regarding genetic and environmental effects on root system size and distribution in the field.

Root system size determines plant performance following short-term soil nutrient pulses

Plant Ecology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 213 (11) ◽  
pp. 1803-1812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric G. Lamb ◽  
Andrew C. Stewart ◽  
James F. Cahill
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
System Size ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Nutrient Pulses ◽  
Root System Size

scholarly journals Genetic and phenotypic associations between root architecture, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonisation and low phosphate tolerance instrawberry (Fragaria × ananassa)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Maria Cockerton ◽  
Bo Li ◽  
Eleftheria Stavridou ◽  
Abigail Johnson ◽  
Amanda Karlström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Root System ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Root Architecture ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
System Size ◽  
Nutrient Depletion ◽  
Depletion Zone ◽  
Root System Size ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background: Phosphate is an essential plant macronutrient required to achieve maximum crop yield. Roots are able to uptake soil phosphate from the immediate root area, thus creating a nutrient depletion zone. Many plants are able to exploit phosphate from beyond this root nutrient depletion zone through symbiotic association with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF). Here we characterise the relationship between root architecture, AMF association and low phosphate tolerance in strawberries. The contrasting root architecture in the parental strawberry cultivars ‘Redgauntlet’ and ‘Hapil’ was studied through a mapping population of 168 progeny. Low phosphate tolerance and AMF association was quantified for each genotype to allow assessment of the phenotypic and genotypic relationships between traits. Results: A “phosphate scavenging” root phenotype where individuals exhibit a high proportion of surface lateral roots was associated with a reduction in root system size across genotypes. A genetic correlation between “root system size” traits was observed with a network of pleiotropic QTL were found to represent five “root system size” traits. By contrast, average root diameter and the distribution of roots appeared to be under two discrete methods of genetic control. A total of 18 QTL were associated with plant traits, 4 of which were associated with solidity that explained 46 % of the observed variation. Investigations into the relationship between AMF association and root architecture found that a higher root density was associated with greater AMF colonisation across genotypes. However, no phenotypic correlation or genotypic association was found between low phosphate tolerance and the propensity for AMF association, nor root architectural traits when plants are grown under optimal nutrient conditions.Conclusions: Understanding the genetic relationships underpinning phosphate capture can inform the breeding of strawberry varieties with better nutrient use efficiency. Solid root systems were associated with greater AMF colonisation. However, low P-tolerance was not phenotypically or genotypically associated with root architecture traits in strawberry plants. Furthermore, a trade-off was observed between root system size and root architecture type, highlighting the energetic costs associated with a “phosphate scavenging” root architecture.

scholarly journals Wheat Cultivars With Contrasting Root System Size Responded Differently to Terminal Drought

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Figueroa-Bustos ◽  
Jairo A. Palta ◽  
Yinglong Chen ◽  
Katia Stefanova ◽  
Kadambot H. M. Siddique
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
System Size ◽  
Wheat Cultivars ◽  
Terminal Drought ◽  
Root System Size

scholarly journals Uncommon selection by root system size increases barley yield

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 545-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petr Svačina ◽  
Tomáš Středa ◽  
Oldřich Chloupek
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
System Size ◽  
Root System Size

scholarly journals Genetic and phenotypic associations between root architecture, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonisation and low phosphate tolerance in strawberry (Fragaria× ananassa)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Maria Cockerton ◽  
Bo Li ◽  
Eleftheria Stavridou ◽  
Abigail Johnson ◽  
Amanda Karlström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Root System ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Root Architecture ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
System Size ◽  
Nutrient Depletion ◽  
Depletion Zone ◽  
Root System Size ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background Phosphate is an essential plant macronutrient required to achieve maximum crop yield. Roots are able to uptake soil phosphate from the immediate root area, thus creating a nutrient depletion zone. Many plants are able to exploit phosphate from beyond this root nutrient depletion zone through symbiotic association with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF). Here we characterise the relationship between root architecture, AMF association and low phosphate tolerance in strawberries. The contrasting root architecture in the parental strawberry cultivars ‘Redgauntlet’ and ‘Hapil’ was studied through a mapping population of 168 progeny. Low phosphate tolerance and AMF association was quantified for each genotype to allow assessment of the phenotypic and genotypic relationships between traits. Results A “phosphate scavenging” root phenotype where individuals exhibit a high proportion of surface lateral roots was associated with a reduction in root system size across genotypes. A genetic correlation between “root system size” traits was observed with a network of pleiotropic QTL were found to represent five “root system size” traits. By contrast, average root diameter and the distribution of roots appeared to be under two discrete methods of genetic control. A total of 18 QTL were associated with plant traits, 4 of which were associated with solidity that explained 46 % of the observed variation. Investigations into the relationship between AMF association and root architecture found that a higher root density was associated with greater AMF colonisation across genotypes. However, no phenotypic correlation or genotypic association was found between low phosphate tolerance and the propensity for AMF association, nor root architectural traits when plants are grown under optimal nutrient conditions. Conclusions Understanding the genetic relationships underpinning phosphate capture can inform the breeding of strawberry varieties with better nutrient use efficiency. Solid root systems were associated with greater AMF colonisation. However, low P-tolerance was not phenotypically or genotypically associated with root architecture traits in strawberry plants. Furthermore, a trade-off was observed between root system size and root architecture type, highlighting the energetic costs associated with a “phosphate scavenging” root architecture.

scholarly journals Combining Ability for Seedling Root System Size and Shoot Vigor in Interspecific Blueberry Progenies

1994 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 793-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.A. Erb ◽  
A.D. Draper ◽  
H.J. Swartz
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Combining Ability ◽  
Variance Components ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
System Size ◽  
Good Growth ◽  
Seedling Root ◽  
Root System Size ◽  
Highly Correlated

Interspecific blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) progenies were examined to determine combining abilities and genetic variability for seedling root system size and shoot vigor and to establish whether a large root system is correlated with good growth when plants are grown on a mineral soil and exposed to a moderate soil water deficit. General combining ability (GCA) variance components for root system size and shoot vigor and specific combining ability variance components for shoot vigor were significant. US226, a tetraploid hybrid of V. myrtilloides Michaux × V. atrococcum Heller, had the highest GCA effect for root system size and the lowest GCA effect for shoot vigor. US75 (V. darrowi Camp × V. corymbosum L.) had the highest GCA effect for shoot vigor and was second in GCA effect for root system size. Comparison of the crosses containing G111 (V. corymbosum) with those containing G362 (V. corymbosum) indicates that selecting for the best V. corymbosum clone to start a breeding program seems as important as selecting the mineral soil-adapted parent. Root system ratings were highly correlated with total dry weight of field-grown plants (r = 0.89). The method used in this study to evaluate seedlings for root system size and shoot vigor could be used to eliminate the less vigorous plants from a population before field planting and to evaluate mineral soil adaptability.

scholarly journals Genotypic Differences in Root System Size in White Mustard in Relation to Biomass Yield and Soil Nitrogen Content

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 871-881
Author(s):  
Martin Hajzler ◽  
Jana Klimešová ◽  
Petra Procházková ◽  
Tomáš Středa
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Root System ◽  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Biomass Yield ◽  
System Size ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Genotypic Differences ◽  
White Mustard ◽  
Root System Size

Growing catch crops is one of the possible strategies to decrease erosion and nitrogen loss from soil profiles. Biomass yield and root system size have significant impacts on the soil nitrogen content. a three‑year field experiment with eight varieties of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) was established to evaluate the effects of genotype and environment on biomass yield, soil nitrogen content and rooting parameters. Significant effects of genotype were found for root length density (RLD), root surface density (RSD) and specific root length (SRL) in the plow layer (0 – 20 cm) and for root system size (RSS), measured by electrical capacitance method, during three phenological phases. Higher biomass yield in varieties with higher RLD and RSD values during ripening and a larger RSS during flowering were found in dry conditions. Relationship of the root system and biomass yield to nitrate and ammonia nitrogen content varied in different environments. We found a significant relation between the RSS and ammonia nitrogen content in more fertile environment on average over the three years. The nitrate nitrogen content was related to the RLD, RSD and SRL in favorable year at shallow soil depths (0 – 20 cm).

Morphological and physiological attributes of root systems and seedling growth in three different Picea glauca reforestation stock

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 1669-1681 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Krasowski ◽  
J N Owens
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Seedling Growth ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
System Size ◽  
The Other ◽  
Root Pruning ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Forest Sites

The relationship between certain morphological characteristics of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) planting stock (STK) and post-planting seedling performance was evaluated. Root system size at planting, its expansion, and its capacity to conduct water during the first post-planting weeks were determined. These characteristics were related to the performance of STK planted on two forest sites and measured for three growing seasons and to the performance of seedlings grown in large wooden boxes buried in the soil outdoors for one growing season (grown without competition from other vegetation). The compared STK were (i) polystyroblock grown, (ii) polystyroblock grown with chemical root pruning, and (iii) peat-board grown with mechanical root pruning. After three growing seasons on forest sites, seedlings with mechanically pruned roots grew more above ground than did seedlings from polystyroblock containers. This difference in seedling growth performance was even more significant for seedlings grown in wooden boxes. Of these, the mechanically pruned seedlings grew more not only above the ground but they also produced larger root systems by the end of the first growing season. This was despite the initially significantly smaller root systems of mechanically pruned seedlings, compared with the other two STK. Early (5-7 weeks after planting) post-planting root expansion patterns in the three STK were significantly different, with the roots of mechanically pruned seedlings growing less than the roots in the other two STK. In spite of this, pressure-probe measured hydraulic conductivity and water flux through root systems increased during the first post-planting weeks in mechanically pruned seedlings while declining or changing little in the other two STK. It was concluded that root system size at planting and its early post-planting expansion did not relate well to the root system hydraulic properties or to the post-planting seedling growth performance.

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