A plant's ability to maintain or improve its yield under limiting conditions,such as nutrient de ficiency or drought,can be strongly in fluenced by root system architecture(RSA),the three-dimensional distribution o...A plant's ability to maintain or improve its yield under limiting conditions,such as nutrient de ficiency or drought,can be strongly in fluenced by root system architecture(RSA),the three-dimensional distribution of the different root types in the soil. The ability to image,track and quantify these root system attributes in a dynamic fashion is a useful tool in assessing desirable genetic and physiological root traits. Recent advances in imaging technology and phenotyping software have resulted in substantive progress in describing and quantifying RSA. We have designed a hydroponic growth system which retains the three-dimensional RSA of the plant root system,while allowing for aeration,solution replenishment and the imposition of nutrient treatments,as well as high-quality imaging of the root system. The simplicity and flexibility of the system allows for modi fications tailored to the RSA of different crop species and improved throughput. This paper details the recent improvements and innovations in our root growth and imaging system which allows for greater image sensitivity(detection of fine roots and other root details),higher ef ficiency,and a broad array of growing conditions for plants that more closely mimic those found under field conditions.展开更多
基金the support of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council funding to the Centre for Plant Integrative Biologyfunding in the form of a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Professorial Research Fellowship+1 种基金European Research Council Advanced Investigator Grant funding(FUTUREROOTS)the Distinguished Scientist Fellowship Program(DSFP)at King Saud University
文摘A plant's ability to maintain or improve its yield under limiting conditions,such as nutrient de ficiency or drought,can be strongly in fluenced by root system architecture(RSA),the three-dimensional distribution of the different root types in the soil. The ability to image,track and quantify these root system attributes in a dynamic fashion is a useful tool in assessing desirable genetic and physiological root traits. Recent advances in imaging technology and phenotyping software have resulted in substantive progress in describing and quantifying RSA. We have designed a hydroponic growth system which retains the three-dimensional RSA of the plant root system,while allowing for aeration,solution replenishment and the imposition of nutrient treatments,as well as high-quality imaging of the root system. The simplicity and flexibility of the system allows for modi fications tailored to the RSA of different crop species and improved throughput. This paper details the recent improvements and innovations in our root growth and imaging system which allows for greater image sensitivity(detection of fine roots and other root details),higher ef ficiency,and a broad array of growing conditions for plants that more closely mimic those found under field conditions.