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Capturing in-field root system dynamics with RootTracker.

ABSTRACT: Optimizing root system architecture offers a promising approach to developing stress tolerant cultivars in the face of climate change, as root systems are critical for water and nutrient uptake as well as mechanical stability. However, breeding for optimal root system architecture has been hindered by the difficulty in measuring root growth in the field. Here, we describe the RootTracker, a technology that employs impedance touch sensors to monitor in-field root growth over time. Configured in a cylindrical, window shutter-like fashion around a planted seed, 264 electrodes are individually charged multiple times over the course of an experiment. Signature changes in the measured capacitance and resistance readings indicate when a root has touched or grown close to an electrode. Using the RootTracker, we have measured root system dynamics of commercial maize (Zea mays) hybrids growing in both typical Midwest field conditions and under different irrigation regimes. We observed rapid responses of root growth to water deficits and found evidence for a "priming response" in which an early water deficit causes more and deeper roots to grow at later time periods. Genotypic variation among hybrid maize lines in their root growth in response to drought indicated a potential to breed for root systems adapted for different environments. Thus, the RootTracker is able to capture changes in root growth over time in response to environmental perturbations.

SUBMITTER: Aguilar JJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8566282 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Capturing in-field root system dynamics with RootTracker.

Aguilar Jeffrey J JJ Moore Matt M Johnson Logan L Greenhut Rachel F RF Rogers Eric E Walker Drew D O'Neil Fletcher F Edwards Jake L JL Thystrup Jake J Farrow Sam S Windle Jesse B JB Benfey Philip N PN

Plant physiology 20211101 3

Optimizing root system architecture offers a promising approach to developing stress tolerant cultivars in the face of climate change, as root systems are critical for water and nutrient uptake as well as mechanical stability. However, breeding for optimal root system architecture has been hindered by the difficulty in measuring root growth in the field. Here, we describe the RootTracker, a technology that employs impedance touch sensors to monitor in-field root growth over time. Configured in a ...[more]

PMID: 34618063

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Project description:Plant-associated nitrogen-fixing microorganisms (diazotrophs) are essential to host nutrient acquisition, productivity and health, but how host growth affects the succession characteristics of crop diazotrophic communities is still poorly understood. Here, Illumina sequencing of DNA- and RNA-derived nifH genes was employed to investigate the dynamics of total and active diazotrophic communities across rhizosphere soil and rice roots under four fertilization regimes during three growth periods (tillering, heading and mature stages) of rice in 2015 and 2016. Our results indicated that 71.9-77.2% of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were both detected at the DNA and RNA levels. According to the nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordinations of Bray-Curtis distances, the variations in community composition of active rhizosphere diazotrophs were greater than those of total rhizosphere diazotrophs. The community composition (β-diversity) of total and active root-associated diazotrophs was shaped predominantly by microhabitat (niche; R 2 ≥ 0.959, p < 0.001), followed by growth period (R 2 ≥ 0.15, p < 0.001). The growth period had a stronger effect on endophytic diazotrophs than on rhizosphere diazotrophs. From the tillering stage to the heading stage, the α-diversity indices (Chao1, Shannon and phylogenetic diversity) and network topological parameters (edge numbers, average clustering coefficient and average degree values) of total endophytic diazotrophic communities increased. The proportions of OTUs shared by the total rhizosphere and endophytic diazotrophs in rhizosphere diazotrophs gradually increased during rice growth. Moreover, total diazotrophic α-diversity and network complexity decreased from rhizosphere soil to roots. Collectively, compared with total diazotrophic communities, active diazotrophic communities were better indicators of biological response to environmental changes. The host microhabitat profoundly drove the temporal dynamics of total and active root-associated diazotrophic communities, followed by the plant growth period.

Dataset Information

Capturing in-field root system dynamics with RootTracker.

Publications

Capturing in-field root system dynamics with RootTracker.

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