eprintid: 11093
rev_number: 37
eprint_status: archive
userid: 1305
dir: disk0/00/01/10/93
datestamp: 2019-03-13 03:24:18
lastmod: 2020-08-09 12:37:43
status_changed: 2019-03-13 03:24:18
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Bontpart, T
creators_name: Concha, C
creators_name: Giuffrida, M V
creators_name: Robertson, I
creators_name: Admkie, K
creators_name: Abdi, T D
creators_name: Wordofa, N G
creators_name: Tesfaye, K
creators_name: Teklu, T H
creators_name: Fikre, A
creators_name: Fetene, M
creators_name: Tsaftaris, S
creators_name: Doerner, P
creators_id: Female
creators_gender: Female
icrisatcreators_name: Fikre, A
affiliation: Institute for Molecular Plant Science; School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh)
affiliation: Institute of Digital Communications, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh)
affiliation: School of Computing, Edinburgh Napier University, Merchiston Campus, Edinburgh
affiliation: Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research
affiliation: ICRISAT (Addis Ababa)
affiliation: College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University (Addis Ababa)
affiliation: Ethiopian Biotechnology Institute (Addis Ababa)
affiliation: Ethiopian Academy of Sciences (Addis Ababa)
country: UK
country: Ethiopia
title: Affordable and robust phenotyping framework to analyse root system architecture of soil-grown plants
ispublished: unpub
subjects: S40006
subjects: s1.1
subjects: s20302
subjects: s54
divisions: CRPS5
full_text_status: public
keywords: Image-based plant phenotyping, Root system architecture, Rhizobox, Cicer arietinum, Raspberry Pi, Phenotiki, Technical advance
note: The authors thank Joanna Jones and S�eyhmus D€undar for testing
some initial rhizobox designs, Sam Anderson and Javier Sur�ıs
Auguet for help with soil preparation and building in glasshouse,
Peter Hoebe from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) for providing
barley seeds. PD thanks BBSRC (BB IAA 15/16–PD & BB GC IAA
16/17) for funding which supported early-stage work with rhizoboxes.
ST and PD thank BBSRC for funding (BB/P023487/1). CC
thanks CONICYT PFCHA/DOCTORADO BECAS CHILE/2016 –
72170128 for a PhD scholarship. This research was carried out
with resources provided by the Edinburgh Plant Growth Facility, a
specialist service provider for plant growth at the University of
Edinburgh.
abstract: The phenotypic analysis of root system growth is important to inform efforts to enhance plant resource
acquisition from soils; however, root phenotyping remains challenging because of the opacity of soil, requiring
systems that facilitate root system visibility and image acquisition. Previously reported systems require
costly or bespoke materials not available in most countries, where breeders need tools to select varieties
best adapted to local soils and field conditions. Here, we report an affordable soil-based growth (rhizobox)
and imaging system to phenotype root development in glasshouses or shelters. All components of the system
are made from locally available commodity components, facilitating the adoption of this affordable
technology in low-income countries. The rhizobox is large enough (approximately 6000 cm2 of visible soil)
to avoid restricting vertical root system growth for most if not all of the life cycle, yet light enough (approximately
21 kg when filled with soil) for routine handling. 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. The RSAs of a dicot species (Cicer arietinum, chickpea) and a monocot species
(Hordeum vulgare, barley), exhibiting contrasting root systems, were analysed. Insights into root system
dynamics during vegetative and reproductive stages of the chickpea life cycle were obtained. This
affordable system is relevant for efforts in Ethiopia and other low- and middle-income countries to enhance
crop yields and climate resilience sustainably.
date: 2020-07
date_type: submitted
publication: The Plant Journal
publisher: John Wiley and Sons
pagerange: 1-13
id_number: 10.1111/tpj.14877
refereed: TRUE
book_title: Affordable and robust phenotyping framework to analyse root system architecture of soil-grown plants
official_url: https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.14877
related_url_url: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=10.1111%2Ftpj.14877&btnG=
related_url_type: pub
funders: BBSRC
citation:   Bontpart, T and Concha, C and Giuffrida, M V and Robertson, I and Admkie, K and Abdi, T D and Wordofa, N G and Tesfaye, K and Teklu, T H and Fikre, A and Fetene, M and Tsaftaris, S and Doerner, P  (2020) Affordable and robust phenotyping framework to analyse root system architecture of soil-grown plants.  The Plant Journal.  pp. 1-13.     (Unpublished)  
document_url: http://oar.icrisat.org/11093/1/tpj.14877.pdf