GLO-Roots: an imaging platform enabling multidimensional characterization of soil-grown roots systems

Root systems develop different root types that individually sense cues from their local environment and integrate this information with systemic signals. This complex multi-dimensional amalgam of inputs enables continuous adjustment of root growth rates, direction and metabolic activity that define...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inbioRxiv
Main Authors Rub n Rell n- lvarez, Lobet, Guillaume, Lindner, Heike, Pradier, Pierre-Luc M, Sebastian, Jose, Muh-Ching Yee, Geng, Yu, Trontin, Charlotte, Larue, Therese, Amanda Schrager Lavelle, Haney, Cara H, Nieu, Rita, Maloof, Julin N, Vogel, John P, Jos R Dinneny
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Cold Spring Harbor Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 03.08.2015
Subjects
Environmental effects
Gene expression
Growth rate
Image processing
Information processing
Information systems
Luminescence
Roots
Soil moisture
Soil properties
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Summary:Root systems develop different root types that individually sense cues from their local environment and integrate this information with systemic signals. This complex multi-dimensional amalgam of inputs enables continuous adjustment of root growth rates, direction and metabolic activity that define a dynamic physical network. Current methods for analyzing root biology balance physiological relevance with imaging capability. To bridge this divide, we developed an integrated imaging system called Growth and Luminescence Observatory for Roots (GLO-Roots) that uses luminescence-based reporters to enable studies of root architecture and gene expression patterns in soil-grown, light-shielded roots. We have developed image analysis algorithms that allow the spatial integration of soil properties such as soil moisture with root traits. We propose GLO-Roots as a system that has great utility in presenting environmental stimuli to roots in ways that evoke natural adaptive responses and in providing tools for studying the multi-dimensional nature of such processes.
DOI:10.1101/016931