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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 9, 2025

Multipronged Phenotyping Approaches to Characterize Sugarcane Root Systems

Multipronged Phenotyping Approaches to Characterize Sugarcane Root Systems

Published on: August 17, 2022

On characterizing root function in perennial horticultural crops.

Emily K Lavely^1,2, Weile Chen³, K Aysha Peterson²

¹Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.

American Journal of Botany

|September 9, 2020

Summary

Root-order classification is useful for understanding perennial crop roots, revealing functional differences and phylogenetic patterns in root diameter. This method is more effective than arbitrary diameter cutoffs for identifying root functions.

Keywords:

absorptive roots branch order fine roots mycorrhizal fungi phylogeny plant functional traits root diameter

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Last Updated: Dec 9, 2025

Multipronged Phenotyping Approaches to Characterize Sugarcane Root Systems

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RGB and Spectral Root Imaging for Plant Phenotyping and Physiological Research: Experimental Setup and Imaging Protocols

RGB and Spectral Root Imaging for Plant Phenotyping and Physiological Research: Experimental Setup and Imaging Protocols

Published on: August 8, 2017

Area of Science:

Plant Science
Horticulture
Root Biology

Background:

Root-order classification is widely used for wild plants but underutilized in perennial crops.
A knowledge gap exists regarding fine-root traits and their functional patterns in domesticated perennial crops.

Purpose of the Study:

To examine fine-root traits across various horticultural fruit and nut crops.
To investigate variations in first- and second-order absorptive roots in perennial crops.
To assess the utility of root-order classification for identifying root functions in crops.

Main Methods:

Fine-root traits of Malus ×domestica, Prunus persica, Vitus vinifera, Prunus dulcis, and Citrus ×clementina were analyzed.
Roots from 33 perennial horticultural crops were sampled from tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions.
Variation in first- and second-order absorptive roots was examined.

Main Results:

First-order roots were consistently thin, nonwoody, mycorrhizal, with high N:C ratios.
Higher-order roots (4th-5th) were woody, nonmycorrhizal, with low N:C ratios, and thicker.
First- and second-order root diameters varied significantly (15-fold) across 33 species, showing phylogenetic conservation.

Conclusions:

Root-order characterization is more effective than diameter cutoffs for identifying root functions in perennial horticultural crops.
Evolutionary relationships can predict much of the variation in root diameter among species.
This study enhances understanding of root system diversity and function in cultivated perennial plants.