Evolving technologies for growing, imaging and analyzing 3D root system architecture of crop plants

Abstract

Abstract A plant's ability to maintain or improve its yield under limiting conditions, such as nutrient deficiency or drought, can be strongly influenced 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 modifications 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 efficiency, and a broad array of growing conditions for plants that more closely mimic those found under field conditions.

Plant phenotyping relevance

根系の3D構造を高品質に撮像・追跡・定量する成長・イメージングシステムの改良が中心であり、植物表現型取得基盤に該当する。

Code and data availability

The paper describes its RootReader 3D-based imaging/analysis software as freely available, with visualization tools hosted at the authors' USDA URL (http://foo.ars.usda.gov.Root). This is a paper-specific, publicly actionable analysis software asset. No phenotype datasets, raw images, or trained models are explicitlyde