The Rapid Anatomics Tool (RAT): A low-cost root anatomical phenotyping pipeline reveals changes in root anatomy along the root axis

Abstract

Root anatomical phenotyping has become a demonstrably essential part of investigating root physiology and in acquiring a holistic understanding of plant development. However, accessible high throughput methods for root anatomical analysis are still lacking. Here, we present the Rapid Anatomics Tool (RAT), a novel, low-cost system for high throughput root anatomical imaging with a shallow learning curve for obtaining high quality images suitable for comparative analysis across a number of plant species. Its efficiency comes from combining blockface-like imaging and stain-free imaging using near-ultraviolet (nUV) autofluorescence utilising a combination of low-cost commercial equipment, readily available mechanical components, and custom designed and 3D printed tools. Using this system, we investigated the anatomy of mature tissue along the axis of wheat crown roots, revealing a tendency of reduction in vascular complexity (expressed through a reduction in metaxylem number, area, and mean area per metaxylem file) from the basal to the distal region of the root. This study highlights the importance of thorough sampling strategies for investigating root anatomy in relation to organ function and introduces an accessible, relatively high-throughput method to support such research.

Plant phenotyping relevance

根の解剖形質を高スループットに画像取得する低コスト手法を開発し、植物種間比較に利用できるシステムとして提示しているため、植物フェノタイピング手法が中心である。

Code and data availability

The supplied blocks describe the RAT hardware and imaging pipeline but contain no public dataset, image, code, or model deposit with an authors' URL; supplementary materials are referenced but no public availability or link is given.

No evidence-backed public reproduction asset is currently recorded.