Environmental and Cultivation Factors Affect the Morphology, Architecture and Performance of Root Systems in Soilless Grown Plants

Soilless culture systems are currently one of the fastest-growing sectors in horticulture. The plant roots are confined into a specific rootzone and are exposed to environmental changes and cultivation factors. The recent scientific evidence regarding the effects of several environmental and cultivation factors on the morphology, architecture, and performance of the root system of plants grown in SCS are the objectives of this study. The effect of root restriction, nutrient solution, irrigation frequency, rootzone temperature, oxygenation, vapour pressure deficit, lighting, rootzone pH, root exudates, CO2, and beneficiary microorganisms on the functionality and performance of the root system are discussed. Overall, the main results of this review demonstrate that researchers have carried out great efforts in innovation to optimize SCS water and nutrients supply, proper temperature, and oxygen levels at the rootzone and effective plant–beneficiary microorganisms, while contributing to plant yields. Finally, this review analyses the new trends based on emerging technologies and various tools that might be exploited in a smart agriculture approach to improve root management in soilless cropping while procuring a deeper understanding of plant root–shoot communication.

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Utilization of a hydrate cellulose film for investigation of Arabidopsis thaliana L. root system growth and development

Biotekhnologiya ◽

10.21519/0234-2758-2020-36-1-36-43 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 36-43

Author(s):

I.O. Konovalova ◽

T.N. Kudelina ◽

S.O. Smolyanina ◽

A.I. Lilienberg ◽

T.N. Bibikova

Keyword(s):

Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽

Root System ◽

Life Support ◽

Higher Plants ◽

Plant Root ◽

Lateral Roots ◽

Basic Research ◽

Cellulose Film ◽

A New Technique ◽

Basic Research Project

A new technique for Arabidopsis thaliana cultivation has been proposed that combines the use of a phytogel-based nutrient medium and a hydrophilic membrane of hydrate cellulose film, separating the root system of the plant from the medium thickness. Growth rates of both main and lateral roots were faster in the plants cultivated on the surface of hydrate cellulose film than in the plants grown in the phytogel volume. The location of the root system on the surface of the transparent hydrate film simplifies its observation and analysis and facilitates plant transplantation with preservation of the root system configuration. The proposed technique allowed us to first assess the effect of exogenous auxin on the growth of lateral roots at the 5-6 developmental stage. methods to study plant root systems, hydrate cellulose film, A. thaliana, lateral roots, differential root growth rate, auxin The work was financially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Project Bel_mol_a 19-54-04015) and the basic topic of the Russian Academy of Sciences - IBMP RAS «Regularities of the Influence of Extreme Environmental Factors on the Processes of Cultivation of Higher Plants and the Development of Japanese Quail Tissues at Different Stages of its Ontogenesis under the Conditions of Regenerative Life Support Systems».

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Female Olympians’ voices: Female sports categories and International Olympic Committee Transgender guidelines

International Review for the Sociology of Sport ◽

10.1177/10126902211021559 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 101269022110215

Author(s):

Cathy Devine

Keyword(s):

Female Athletes ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Policy Formulation ◽

International Olympic Committee ◽

Political Discourses ◽

Fair Competition ◽

Fair Inclusion ◽

Female Sports ◽

And Performance ◽

Unanimous Agreement

The fair inclusion of female athletes at elite and Olympic levels is secured in most sports by way of female categories because of the extensively documented biological and performance-related differences between the sexes. International policy for transgender inclusion is framed by the definitive International Olympic Committee transgender guidelines in which the International Olympic Committee confirms the ‘overriding sporting objective is and remains the guarantee of fair competition’ and transwomen can be excluded from female categories if, in the interests of fairness, this is necessary and proportionate. Feminist theorists argue justice requires that women have equal moral standing in the sociocultural–political structures of society including sport. As such their voices should carry equal democratic weight. However, female elite and Olympic athletes are rarely heard in the sociocultural–political discourses of academic literature or policy formulation for transgender inclusion in female categories by the International Olympic Committee and governing bodies of sport. This empirical study investigated the views and presents the ‘voices’ of 19 female Olympians. The main findings include (1) these athletes thought both female and transgender athletes should be fairly included in elite sport, (2) unanimous agreement there is not enough scientific evidence to show no competitive advantage for transwomen, (3) unanimous agreement that the International Olympic Committee should revisit the rules and scientific evidence for transgender inclusion in female categories, and (4) the majority of athletes felt that they could not ask questions or discuss this issue without being accused of transphobia.

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3D plant root system reconstruction based on fusion of deep structure-from-motion and IMU

Multimedia Tools and Applications ◽

10.1007/s11042-020-10069-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yawen Lu ◽

Yuxing Wang ◽

Zhanjie Chen ◽

Awais Khan ◽

Carl Salvaggio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Root System ◽

Structure From Motion ◽

Deep Structure ◽

Plant Root ◽

System Reconstruction ◽

Plant Root System

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A 3D-printed, Arabidopsis Thaliana Root Imaging Platform

Lab on a Chip ◽

10.1039/d1lc00149c ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Michel Moussus ◽

Matthias Meier

Keyword(s):

Molecular Dynamics ◽

Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽

High Resolution ◽

Root System ◽

Plant Root ◽

Microfluidic Platforms ◽

External Cues ◽

3D Printed ◽

Plant Root System ◽

Analytical Tools

High resolution live imaging promises new insights into the cellular and molecular dynamics of the plant root system in response to external cues. Microfluidic platforms are valuable analytical tools that...

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Small-scale characterization of vine plant root water uptake via 3-D electrical resistivity tomography and mise-à-la-masse method

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ◽

10.5194/hess-22-5427-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (10) ◽

pp. 5427-5444 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Benjamin Mary ◽

Luca Peruzzo ◽

Jacopo Boaga ◽

Myriam Schmutz ◽

Yuxin Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electrical Resistivity ◽

Root System ◽

Field Data ◽

Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽

Root Zone ◽

Plant Root ◽

Root Water Uptake ◽

Small Scale ◽

Noninvasive Methods ◽

Resistivity Tomography

Abstract. The investigation of plant roots is inherently difficult and often neglected. Being out of sight, roots are often out of mind. Nevertheless, roots play a key role in the exchange of mass and energy between soil and the atmosphere, in addition to the many practical applications in agriculture. In this paper, we propose a method for roots imaging based on the joint use of two electrical noninvasive methods: electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and mise-à-la-masse (MALM). The approach is based on the key assumption that the plant root system acts as an electrically conductive body, so that injecting electrical current into the plant stem will ultimately result in the injection of current into the subsoil through the root system, and particularly through the root terminations via hair roots. Evidence from field data, showing that voltage distribution is very different whether current is injected into the tree stem or in the ground, strongly supports this hypothesis. The proposed procedure involves a stepwise inversion of both ERT and MALM data that ultimately leads to the identification of electrical resistivity (ER) distribution and of the current injection root distribution in the three-dimensional soil space. This, in turn, is a proxy to the active (hair) root density in the ground. We tested the proposed procedure on synthetic data and, more importantly, on field data collected in a vineyard, where the estimated depth of the root zone proved to be in agreement with literature on similar crops. The proposed noninvasive approach is a step forward towards a better quantification of root structure and functioning.

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Regulation of lateral root development by shoot-sensed far-red light via HY5 is nitrate-dependent and involves the NRT2.1 nitrate transporter

10.1101/2021.01.31.428985 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kasper van Gelderen ◽

Chiakai Kang ◽

Peijin Li ◽

Ronald Pierik

Keyword(s):

Root Growth ◽

Root System ◽

Lateral Root ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Red Light ◽

Agar Plate ◽

Nitrate Transporter ◽

Loss Of Function ◽

Lateral Root Development ◽

Nitrate Signaling

AbstractPlants are very effective in responding to environmental changes during competition for light and nutrients. Low Red:Far-Red (low R:FR)-mediated neighbor detection allows plants to compete successfully with other plants for available light. This above-ground signal can also reduce lateral root growth by inhibiting lateral root emergence, a process that might help the plant invest resources in shoot growth. Nitrate is an essential nutrient for plant growth and Arabidopsis thaliana responds to low nitrate conditions by enhancing nutrient uptake and reducing lateral and main root growth. There are indications that low R:FR signaling and low nitrate signaling can affect each other. It is unknown which response is prioritized when low R:FR light- and low nitrate signaling co-occur. We investigated the effect of low nitrate conditions on the low R:FR response of the A. thaliana root system in agar plate media, combined with the application of supplemental Far-Red (FR) light to the shoot. We observed that under low nitrate conditions main and lateral root growth was reduced, but more importantly, that the response of the root system to low R:FR was suppressed. Consistently, a loss-of-function mutant of a nitrate transporter gene NRT2.1 lacked low R:FR-induced lateral root reduction and its root growth was hypersensitive to low nitrate. ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5) plays an important role in the root response to low R:FR and we found that it was less sensitive to low nitrate conditions with regards to lateral root growth. In addition, we found that low R:FR increases NRT2.1 expression and that low nitrate enhances HY5 expression. HY5 also affects NRT2.1 expression, however, it depended on the presence of ammonium in which direction this effect was. Replacing part of the nitrogen source with ammonium also removed the effect of low R:FR on the root system, showing that changes in nitrogen sources can be crucial for root plasticity. Together our results show that nitrate signaling can repress low R:FR responses and that this involves signaling via HY5 and NRT2.1.

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An easily operated apparatus to register the amount of the aqueous solution absorbed by a plant root system

Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae ◽

10.5586/asbp.1972.013 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 187-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jerzy Czerski

Keyword(s):

Aqueous Solution ◽

Root System ◽

Plant Root ◽

Plant Root System

An easily operated apparatus was constructed (figs. 1,2) allowing to register the amount of the aqueous solution absorbed by a planet root system. The device allows for simultaneous registering of the solution absorption by two plants. The recording of a definite volume of the absorbed solution can be controlled within wide limits. Experiments (figs. 3,4) confirmed the efficiency of the apparatus.

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Portuguese Football Federation consensus statement 2020: nutrition and performance in football

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001082 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. e001082

Author(s):

Rodrigo Abreu ◽

Pedro Figueiredo ◽

Paulo Beckert ◽

José P Marques ◽

Samuel Amorim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sports Medicine ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Football Players ◽

Sports Science ◽

Physiological Demands ◽

And Performance ◽

Nutritional Strategies ◽

Practical Constraints ◽

Practical Recommendations

Nutrition is an undeniable part of promoting health and performance among football (soccer) players. Nevertheless, nutritional strategies adopted in elite football can vary significantly depending on culture, habit and practical constraints and might not always be supported by scientific evidence. Therefore, a group of 28 Portuguese experts on sports nutrition, sports science and sports medicine sought to discuss current practices in the elite football landscape and review the existing evidence on nutritional strategies to be applied when supporting football players. Starting from understanding football’s physical and physiological demands, five different moments were identified: preparing to play, match-day, recovery after matches, between matches and during injury or rehabilitation periods. When applicable, specificities of nutritional support to young athletes and female players were also addressed. The result is a set of practical recommendations that gathered consensus among involved experts, highlighting carbohydrates periodisation, hydration and conscious use of dietary supplements.

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A Systematic Review of CrossFit® Workouts and Dietary and Supplementation Interventions to Guide Nutritional Strategies and Future Research in CrossFit®

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism ◽

10.1123/ijsnem.2020-0223 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Ricardo Augusto Silva de Souza ◽

André Guedes da Silva ◽

Magda Ferreira de Souza ◽

Liliana Kataryne Ferreira Souza ◽

Hamilton Roschel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Muscle Fatigue ◽

High Intensity ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Metabolic Stress ◽

Optimal Recovery ◽

Future Research ◽

Nutritional Recommendations ◽

And Performance ◽

Nutritional Strategies

CrossFit® is a high-intensity functional training method consisting of daily workouts called “workouts of the day.” No nutritional recommendations exist for CrossFit® that are supported by scientific evidence regarding the energetic demands of this type of activity or dietary and supplement interventions. This systematic review performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines aimed to identify studies that determined (a) the physiological and metabolic demands of CrossFit® and (b) the effects of nutritional strategies on CrossFit® performance to guide nutritional recommendations for optimal recovery, adaptations, and performance for CrossFit® athletes and direct future research in this emerging area. Three databases were searched for studies that investigated physiological responses to CrossFit® and dietary or supplementation interventions on CrossFit® performance. Various physiological measures revealed the intense nature of all CrossFit® workouts of the day, reflected in substantial muscle fatigue and damage. Dietary and supplementation studies provided an unclear insight into effective strategies to improve performance and enhance adaptations and recovery due to methodological shortcomings across studies. This systematic review showed that CrossFit® is a high-intensity sport with fairly homogenous anaerobic and aerobic characteristics, resulting in substantial metabolic stress, leading to metabolite accumulation (e.g., lactate and hydrogen ions) and increased markers of muscle damage and muscle fatigue. Limited interventional data exist on dietary and supplementation strategies to optimize CrossFit® performance, and most are moderate to very low quality with some critical methodological limitations, precluding solid conclusions on their efficacy. High-quality work is needed to confirm the ideal dietary and supplemental strategies for optimal performance and recovery for CrossFit® athletes and is an exciting avenue for further research.

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