Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/16477
Title: Root phenomics of crops: opportunities and challenges
Contributor(s): Gregory, Peter J (author); Bengough, A Glyn (author); Grinev, Dmitri (author); Schmidt, Sonja (author); Thomas, W T Bill (author); Wojciechowski, Tobias (author); Young, Iain  (author)
Publication Date: 2009
DOI: 10.1071/FP09150
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/16477
Abstract: Reliable techniques for screening large numbers of plants for root traits are still being developed, but include aeroponic, hydroponic and agar plate systems. Coupled with digital cameras and image analysis software, these systems permit the rapid measurement of root numbers, length and diameter in moderate (typically <1000) numbers of plants. Usually such systems are employed with relatively small seedlings, and information is recorded in 2D. Recent developments in X-ray microtomography have facilitated 3D non-invasive measurement of small root systems grown in solid media, allowing angular distributions to be obtained in addition to numbers and length. However, because of the time taken to scan samples, only a small number can be screened (typically <10 per day, not including analysis time of the large spatial datasets generated) and, depending on sample size, limited resolution may mean that fine roots remain unresolved. Although agar plates allow differences between lines and genotypes to be discerned in young seedlings, the rank order may not be the same when the same materials are grown in solid media. For example, root length of dwarfing wheat ('Triticum aestivum' L.) lines grown on agar plates was increased by ~40% relative to wild-type and semi-dwarfing lines, but in a sandy loam soil under well watered conditions it was decreased by 24-33%. Such differences in ranking suggest that significant soil environment-genotype interactions are occurring. Developments in instruments and software mean that a combination of high-throughput simple screens and more in-depth examination of root-soil interactions is becoming viable.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Functional Plant Biology, 36(11), p. 922-929
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Place of Publication: Australia
ISSN: 1445-4416
1445-4408
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 060208 Terrestrial Ecology
050206 Environmental Monitoring
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 820501 Barley
820507 Wheat
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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