How the University of Florida Uses 200 Root Tube Installations with the CI-602 Root Imager

The University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Plant Root Biology Laboratory led by Dr. Lorenzo Rossi is located at the Indian River Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS IRREC) in Fort Pierce, Florida. Situated in the heart of the premiere grapefruit growing region of the world, the lab primarily uses the CI-602 root imager to study grapefruit root growth and development under different nutritional and irrigation levels.

Currently, researchers at the laboratory use over 200 root imaging tubes installed in both research and commercial groves in a variety of experimental trials. With the citrus greening devastating the citrus production in Florida, the roots imager allows researchers in the laboratory to study root architecture and growth quickly without disturbing the root zone. Researchers can identify root traits of interest and optimal nutrition levels, which can be directly correlated to root health.