scholarly journals Analysis on root system morphology using a root length density model. II. Examples of analysis on rice root systems.

1988 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 755-758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigenori MORITA ◽  
Tetsuya SUGA ◽  
Keisuke NEMOTO
1988 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 749-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuya SUGA ◽  
Keisuke NEMOTO ◽  
Jun ABE ◽  
Shigenori MORITA

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 503 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Firth ◽  
R. D. B. Whalley ◽  
G. G. Johns

Whole-tree excavations, root-core and minirhizotron studies indicate that the grafted macadamia tree root system is relatively shallow and spreading, with a short taproot and most of the fibrous root system near the soil surface, while ungrafted trees have a longer taproot. The length of fibrous roots diminished with depth and distance from the trunk. This pattern is consistent with other fruit trees, in that the highest density is generally within 1 m of the trunk. Values obtained in core samples in this study were 4.97 (± 0.43) cm/cm3 and 1.67 (± 0.45) cm/cm3 for 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm at 0.5 m from the trunk, and 2.34 and 1.08 cm/cm3, respectively, at 1 m from the trunk at Clunes. These values were similar to those obtained in separate studies in 1991–93, involving assessments at 5�cm depth increments down to 15 cm, where mean root length densities were 2.0–3.5 cm/cm3 and 1.3–1.9 cm/cm3 at 0–5 cm and 5–15 cm depth, respectively, 1.4 m from the trunk. Root length under old trees in bare soil at Dorroughby and Clunes, using minirhizotrons (0.25–0.40 cm/cm2) and soil cores (1.14 and 3.50 cm/cm3, respectively), was similar to that found at other sites in the study area (minirhizotrons 0.28–0.33 cm/cm2; soil cores 1.25–2.80 cm/cm3). There is an apparent lower rate of decrease in root length density with increasing distance from the trunk at 10–20 cm compared with 0–10 cm. New root growth occurred predominantly in autumn, but some new fibrous roots were produced in early winter and spring. Proteoid roots were found in abundance in soil cores and adjacent to minirhizotron tubes and there were more of them in the root systems of younger trees at Clunes than with older trees at Dorroughby. Proteoid roots were found at a greater depth than previously recorded for other Proteaceae species, and appeared to retain their function in relatively dry conditions for more than a year. Non-proteoid fibrous roots at the minirhizotron surface appeared to be functional for about 1.5 years in relatively dry conditions, before decay after the onset of wet soil conditions.The effects of 2 newly established perennial legume groundcovers on the root systems of younger and older macadamia trees were studied over 2.5 years. In general, the presence of groundcover either had no effect on the growth of the macadamia roots or increased the root length density at some sampling dates and some depths. At Clunes, where the proteoid root length density was higher than at Dorroughby, the presence of groundcover was associated with higher proteoid root length density than that with bare ground. Arachis pintoi cv. Amarillo generally had a lower root length density than Lotus pedunculatus.


2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Fassio ◽  
Ricardo Cautin ◽  
Alonso Pérez-Donoso ◽  
Claudia Bonomelli ◽  
Mónica Castro

Root morphological traits and biomass allocation were studied in 2-year-old ‘Duke 7’ avocado (Persea americana) trees propagated using seedling and clonal techniques. The plants either were or were not grafted with the scion ‘Hass’. Whole tree excavation 1 year after planting revealed that the propagation technique affected the root growth angle of the main roots (third order roots), the root length density (defined as the total length of roots per volume of soil), and the number of first and second order roots present. The root system of clonal trees showed a typical morphology of rooted cuttings, with a crown of roots originating from a relatively short stem, resulting in a shallow root system. Clonal trees, compared with seedlings, produced main framework roots with shallower angles and more fine roots (first and second order roots) that increased the root length density (defined as the total length of roots per volume of soil). Nongrafted seedlings exhibited a main taproot and lateral roots with narrow angles that penetrated deeper into the soil and increased the aboveground biomass but had a lower root-to-shoot ratio than nongrafted clonal trees. The grafting of both clonal and seedling trees resulted in similar root architecture and revealed that grafting significantly decreased the soil volume explored and the shoot and root biomass. Although both root systems were shallow, grafted clonal trees had a higher root-to-shoot ratio than grafted seedlings. In this study, a distinct class of roots with large diameter and unbranched growth was more abundant in the root systems of clonal trees. These types of roots (previously undescribed in avocado trees), called pioneer roots, may enhance soil exploration in clonal trees.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 629-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew B. Bertucci ◽  
David H. Suchoff ◽  
Katherine M. Jennings ◽  
David W. Monks ◽  
Christopher C. Gunter ◽  
...  

Grafting of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is an established production practice that provides resistance to soilborne diseases or tolerance to abiotic stresses. Watermelon may be grafted on several cucurbit species (interspecific grafting); however, little research exists to describe root systems of these diverse rootstocks. A greenhouse study was conducted to compare root system morphology of nine commercially available cucurbit rootstocks, representing four species: pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), squash (Cucurbita pepo), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), and an interspecific hybrid squash (C. maxima × C. moschata). Rootstocks were grafted with a triploid watermelon scion (‘Exclamation’), and root systems were compared with nongrafted (NG) and self-grafted (SG) ‘Exclamation’. Plants were harvested destructively at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after transplant (WAT), and data were collected on scion dry weight, total root length (TRL), average root diameter, root surface area, root:shoot dry-weight ratio, root diameter class proportions, and specific root length. For all response variables, the main effect of rootstock and rootstock species was significant (P < 0.05). The main effect of harvest was significant (P < 0.05) for all response variables, with the exception of TRL proportion in diameter class 2. ‘Ferro’ rootstock produced the largest TRL and root surface area, with observed values 122% and 120% greater than the smallest root system (‘Exclamation’ SG), respectively. Among rootstock species, pumpkin produced the largest TRL and root surface area, with observed values 100% and 82% greater than those of watermelon, respectively. These results demonstrate that substantial differences exist during the initial 3 WAT in root system morphology of rootstocks and rootstock species available for watermelon grafting and that morphologic differences of root systems can be characterized using image analysis.


2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter S. Searles ◽  
Diego A. Saravia ◽  
M. Cecilia Rousseaux

Several studies have evaluated many above-ground aspects of olive production, but essential root system characteristics have been little examined. The objective of our study was to evaluate root length density (RLD) and root distribution relative to soil water content in three commercial orchards (north-west Argentina). Depending on the orchard, the different drip emitter arrangements included either: (1) emitters spaced continuously at 1-m intervals along the drip line (CE-4; 4 emitters per tree); (2) 4 emitters per tree spaced at 1-m intervals, but with a space of 2 m between emitters of neighbouring trees (E-4); or (3) 2 emitters per tree with 4 m between emitters of neighbouring trees (E-2). All of the orchards included either var. Manzanilla fina or Manzanilla reina trees (5–8 years old) growing in sandy soils, although the specific characteristics of each orchard differed. Root length density values (2.5–3.5 cm/cm3) in the upper soil depth (0–0.5 m) were fairly uniform along the drip line in the continuous emitter (CE-4) orchard. In contrast, roots were more concentrated in the E-4 and E-2 orchards, in some cases with maximum RLD values of up to 7 cm/cm3. Approximately 70% of the root system was located in the upper 0.5 m of soil depth, and most of the roots were within 0.5 m of the drip line. For each of the three orchards, significant linear relationships between soil water content and RLD were detected based on 42 sampling positions that included various distances from the trunk and soil depths. Values of RLD averaged over the entire rooting zone and total tree root length per leaf area for the three orchards were estimated to range from 0.19 to 0.48 cm/cm3 and from 1.8 to 3.5 km/m2, respectively. These results should reduce the uncertainty associated with the magnitude of RLD values under drip irrigation as intensively managed olive orchards continue to expand in established and new growing regions.


Nematology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk De Waele ◽  
Paul Speijer ◽  
Clifford Gold ◽  
Rony Swennen ◽  
Herbert Talwana

AbstractBanana production in East Africa is threatened by declining yields partly caused by plant-parasitic nematodes. Attempts to ameliorate this damage are hampered by a lack of information on the characteristics of the root systems of healthy and nematode infested roots of commonly grown banana cultivars. An experiment in hydroponic culture, where healthy root systems were established, demonstrated that there were differences in number, size and distribution of primary, secondary and tertiary roots among the cultivars Nabusa, Pisang Awak and Sukali Ndizi. Field experiments carried out at three sites in Uganda showed that nematode damage on the same cultivars increased the number of primary roots and root bases, either increased or decreased root length depending on the cultivar or nematode species involved, but always decreased root length density. Root number and size are probably critical factors in determining plant tolerance to nematodes. Our findings should help plant breeding programmes, which must establish those selection criteria that are most likely to reduce the debilitating effects of nematode damage.


2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 4189-4206 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bechmann ◽  
C. Schneider ◽  
A. Carminati ◽  
D. Vetterlein ◽  
S. Attinger ◽  
...  

Abstract. Detailed three-dimensional models of root water uptake have become increasingly popular for investigating the process of root water uptake. However, they suffer from a lack of information on important parameters, particularly on the spatial distribution of root axial and radial conductivities, which vary greatly along a root system. In this paper we explore how the arrangement of those root hydraulic properties and branching within the root system affects modelled uptake dynamics, xylem water potential and the efficiency of root water uptake. We first apply a simple model to illustrate the mechanisms at the scale of single roots. By using two efficiency indices based on (i) the collar xylem potential ("effort") and (ii) the integral amount of unstressed root water uptake ("water yield"), we show that an optimal root length emerges, depending on the ratio between roots axial and radial conductivity. Young roots with high capacity for radial uptake are only efficient when they are short. Branching, in combination with mature transport roots, enables soil exploration and substantially increases active young root length at low collar potentials. Second, we investigate how this shapes uptake dynamics at the plant scale using a comprehensive three-dimensional root water uptake model. Plant-scale dynamics, such as the average uptake depth of entire root systems, were only minimally influenced by the hydraulic parameterization. However, other factors such as hydraulic redistribution, collar potential, internal redistribution patterns and instantaneous uptake depth depended strongly on the arrangement on the arrangement of root hydraulic properties. Root systems were most efficient when assembled of different root types, allowing for separation of root function in uptake (numerous short apical young roots) and transport (longer mature roots). Modelling results became similar when this heterogeneity was accounted for to some degree (i.e. if the root systems contained between 40 and 80% of young uptake roots). The average collar potential was cut to half and unstressed transpiration increased by up to 25% in composed root systems, compared to homogenous ones. Also, the least efficient root system (homogenous young root system) was characterized by excessive bleeding (hydraulic lift), which seemed to be an artifact of the parameterization. We conclude that heterogeneity of root hydraulic properties is a critical component for efficient root systems that needs to be accounted for in complex three-dimensional root water uptake models.


HortScience ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1064e-1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward F. Gilman ◽  
Michael E. Kane

Shoot and root growth were measured on Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis L.) Var. `Torulosa', `Sylvestris', `Pfitzeriana' and `Hetzii' 1, 2 and 3 years after planting into a simulated landscape from 10-liter black plastic containers. Mean diameter of the root system increased quadratically averaging 1, 2 m/year; whereas, mean branch spread increased at 0, 33 m/year, Three years after planting, root spread was 2, 75 times branch spread and roots covered an area 5.5 times that covered by the branches. Percentage of total root length located within the dripline of the plants remained fairly constant (71-77%) during the first 3 years following planting. Root length density per unit area increased over time but decreased with distance from the trunk. In the first 2 years after planting shoot weight increased faster than root `weight. However, during the third year after planting, the root system increased in mass and size at a faster rate than the shoots. Root length was correlated with root weight within root-diameter classes, Root spread and root area were correlated with trunk area, branch spread and crown area.


1991 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 637-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward F. Gilman ◽  
Michael E. Kane

Shoot and root growth were measured on Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis L. `Torulosa', `Sylvestris', `Pfitzeriana', and `Hetzii') 1, 2, and 3 years after planting from 1l-liter black plastic containers. Mean diameter of the root system expanded quadratically, whereas mean branch spread increased linearly. Three years after planting, root spread was 2.75 times branch spread, and roots covered an area 5.5 times that covered by the branches. Percentage of total root length located within the dripline of the plants remained fairly constant for each cultivar during the 3 years following planting. Root length density increased over time but decreased with distance from the trunk. During the first 2 years after planting, shoot mass increased faster than root mass. In the 3rd year, the root system increased in mass at a faster rate than the shoots. Root length was correlated with root weight. Root spread and root area were correlated with trunk cross-sectional area, branch spread, and crown area.


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