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Affordable and robust phenotyping framework to analyse root system architecture of soil-grown plants

View ORCID ProfileThibaut Bontpart, View ORCID ProfileCristobal Concha, View ORCID ProfileValerio Giuffrida, View ORCID ProfileIngrid Robertson, View ORCID ProfileKassahun Admkie, View ORCID ProfileTulu Degefu, View ORCID ProfileNigusie Girma, View ORCID ProfileKassahun Tesfaye, View ORCID ProfileTeklehaimanot Haileselassie, View ORCID ProfileAsnake Fikre, View ORCID ProfileMasresha Fetene, View ORCID ProfileSotirios A. Tsaftaris, View ORCID ProfilePeter Doerner
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/573139
Thibaut Bontpart
1Institute for Molecular Plant Science; School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Cristobal Concha
1Institute for Molecular Plant Science; School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Valerio Giuffrida
2Institute of Digital Communications, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Ingrid Robertson
1Institute for Molecular Plant Science; School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Kassahun Admkie
3Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia
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Tulu Degefu
4International Crops Research Institute for the semi-arid tropics, ICRISAT-Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Nigusie Girma
3Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia
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Kassahun Tesfaye
5College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
6Ethiopian Biotechnology Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Teklehaimanot Haileselassie
5College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Asnake Fikre
3Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia
4International Crops Research Institute for the semi-arid tropics, ICRISAT-Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Masresha Fetene
5College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
7Ethiopian Academy of Sciences, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Sotirios A. Tsaftaris
2Institute of Digital Communications, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Peter Doerner
1Institute for Molecular Plant Science; School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Abstract

The analysis of root system growth, root phenotyping, is important to inform efforts to enhance plant resource acquisition from soils. However, root phenotyping remains challenging due to soil opacity and requires systems that optimize root visibility and image acquisition. Previously reported systems require costly and bespoke materials not available in most countries, where breeders need tools to select varieties best adapted to local soils and field conditions. Here, we present an affordable soil-based growth container (rhizobox) and imaging system to phenotype root development in greenhouses or shelters. All components of the system are made from commodity components, locally available worldwide to facilitate the adoption of this affordable technology in low-income countries. The rhizobox is large enough (~6000 cm2 visible soil) to not restrict vertical root system growth for at least seven weeks after sowing, yet light enough (~21 kg) to be routinely moved manually. Support structures and an imaging station, with five cameras covering the whole soil surface, complement the rhizoboxes. Images are acquired via the Phenotiki sensor interface, collected, stitched and analysed. Root system architecture (RSA) parameters are quantified without intervention. RSA of a dicot (chickpea, Cicer arietinum L.) and a monocot (barley, Hordeum vulgare L.) species, which exhibit contrasting root systems, were analysed. The affordable system is relevant for efforts in Ethiopia and elsewhere to enhance yields and climate resilience of chickpea and other crops for improved food security.

Significance Statement An affordable system to characterize root system architecture of soil-grown plants was developed. Using commodity components, this will enable local efforts world-wide to breed for enhanced root systems.

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Posted March 11, 2019.
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Affordable and robust phenotyping framework to analyse root system architecture of soil-grown plants
Thibaut Bontpart, Cristobal Concha, Valerio Giuffrida, Ingrid Robertson, Kassahun Admkie, Tulu Degefu, Nigusie Girma, Kassahun Tesfaye, Teklehaimanot Haileselassie, Asnake Fikre, Masresha Fetene, Sotirios A. Tsaftaris, Peter Doerner
bioRxiv 573139; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/573139
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Affordable and robust phenotyping framework to analyse root system architecture of soil-grown plants
Thibaut Bontpart, Cristobal Concha, Valerio Giuffrida, Ingrid Robertson, Kassahun Admkie, Tulu Degefu, Nigusie Girma, Kassahun Tesfaye, Teklehaimanot Haileselassie, Asnake Fikre, Masresha Fetene, Sotirios A. Tsaftaris, Peter Doerner
bioRxiv 573139; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/573139

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