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What We Learned About Roots in 2023

Most studies in 2023 focused on root responses to agricultural practices to improve yield using fewer resources. Research into the basic science of roots and the influence of biotic and abiotic factors are the second significant areas of study. Fine roots are a particular area of focus, given their importance in nutrient and water uptake… Continue reading…

Minirhizotron Systems for Root Disease Detection

Root diseases are a significant issue in reducing crop yields globally. The damage and symptoms caused by root diseases change morphology and growth dynamics that images and scans can detect. Minirhizotron systems can detect a wide range of root changes reflecting various levels of root disease severity, providing a novel detection method. Root diseases are… Continue reading…

The Root Traits Reducing Landslide Susceptibility

Stabilization of slope hillsides is one of the crucial ecosystem functions of roots. Roots modify mechanical and hydrological soil properties to reduce landslide susceptibility, which is one of the main benefits of root traits reducing landslide susceptibility. Roots reinforce soil, provide structural support, deepen anchoring, and help to dry soils quickly after rains. Several underlying… Continue reading…

How Rootstocks Affect Graft Hydraulic Balance

Rootstocks of different genotypes have varying hydraulic conductance. Rootstock’s hydraulic conductivity will influence a scion’s water relations. Rootstocks influence a scion’s hydraulic conductance through its root system size and vigor, hydraulic signaling, and direct signaling. Dwarfing and drought tolerance are the two impacts of a rootstock’s hydraulic conductance on grafted trees. Grafting scions to rootstocks… Continue reading…

Guide: Connecting Root Traits to Functions

A growing interest in connecting root traits to functions has identified significant patterns. Several root traits can be involved in a single plant function, and the importance of trait contribution will differ depending on species, biomes, seasons, environment, and soil types. The widely studied morphological and architectural root traits are root length density, root diameter… Continue reading…

Understanding Alpine Growth Dynamics in a Warming World: A Root Imaging Study

Every little bit of information counts in the scientific journey to understand the impacts of climate change. Today, we’d like to spotlight a fascinating study by Patrick Möhl, Raphael S. von Büren, and Erika Hiltbrunner, which challenges previous assumptions about plant growth in alpine environments under a warming climate. This research, primarily using root imagery,… Continue reading…

5 Ways Mycorrhizae Influence Forest Productivity

Ectomycorrhiza is commonly found in forests, especially in temperate and boreal regions. Arbuscular mycorrhizae, a type of endomycorrhiza, is more common in the tropics, grasslands, plantations, and deserts. A tree can have more than one type of mycorrhiza, each making a distinct contribution to its hosts. Mycorrhiza increases access and absorption of nutrients and water,… Continue reading…

Root Systems’ Role in Ecosystems

Root systems make several vital contributions to ecosystems through their structure and functioning, influencing their environments and encouraging microbial growth and activities. Roots influence biogeochemistry through their involvement in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus nutrient cycling. They are also significant contributors to the soil carbon sink. Roots build soil structure, stability, and water-holding capacity and promote… Continue reading…

Hydroponic Root Growth: Liquid Fertilizer’s Effect on Paprika From Concentrations in Hydroponic Cultures

Read the full study here. Research Authors: Jinen Hojo, Hiroyuki Chiba, and Takashi Ikeda, Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan Aspiring to shed light on the mysteries of plant growth, a team of researchers from Meiji University in Tokyo, Japan, undertook an interesting study to explore the effects of different liquid fertilizer concentrations on the growth of… Continue reading…

Unraveling the Mystery of Perennial Wheat: A Root Structure Imaging Study

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in the world, providing a substantial portion of the global population’s caloric intake. In recent years, researchers have been working to develop perennial wheat varieties that would allow the crop to survive for multiple years without the need for replanting. This wheat saves resources, reduces environmental… Continue reading…