X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) Scanning Is a Non-Destructive and Modern Technique to Identify and Assess the Characteristics of Armillaria solidipes Pathogen Infections in Poplar Roots

Abstract

(1) Objective: The opacity of soils complicates studies of root infection. An example of this is the infection of Armillaria solidipes on poplar (Populus davidiana × Populus alba var. pyramidalis Louche) roots systems, which risks damaging trees. (2) Methods: Only one of the four tested substrates for tree species was shown to be suitable to perform X-ray computed tomography (CT). Three-dimensional (3D) imaging was used to reconstruct the root system of poplar seedlings and the changes caused by the infection. (3) Results: We developed a protocol to efficiently grow poplar on a synthetic matrix, vermiculite, that allows for monitoring the root system by X-ray CT. Poplar 3D reconstruction of the root system was automated using the software Win-RHIZO, and various infection parameters were identified. (4) Conclusions: Our procedure allows for monitoring the infection of root systems and provides new opportunities to characterize the complex Armillaria solidipes poplar interaction using X-ray CT.

Plant phenotyping relevance

ポプラ根系の感染状態をX線CTと3D再構成で取得・定量するプロトコルを開発しており、植物フェノタイピング手法が研究の中心である。

Code and data availability

The paper describes X-ray CT phenotyping of poplar roots infected with Armillaria solidipes, but no public phenotype dataset, CT images, analysis code, or trained model is deposited. The only availability statement concerns a GenBank ITS sequence (OP787670.1), which is a molecular omics deposit, not a paper-specific ph

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