Rhizoboxes as Rapid Tools for the Study of Root Systems of <i>Prunus</i> Seedlings
Ricardo A. Lesmes-Vesga,
Liliana M. Cano,
Mark A. Ritenour,
Ali Sarkhosh,
José X. Chaparro,
Lorenzo Rossi
Affiliations
Ricardo A. Lesmes-Vesga
Horticultural Sciences Department, Indian River Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USA
Liliana M. Cano
Plant Pathology Department, Indian River Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USA
Mark A. Ritenour
Horticultural Sciences Department, Indian River Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USA
Ali Sarkhosh
Horticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
José X. Chaparro
Horticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
Lorenzo Rossi
Horticultural Sciences Department, Indian River Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USA
Rootstocks are fundamental for peach production, and their architectural root traits determine their performance. Root-system architecture (RSA) analysis is one of the key factors involved in rootstock selection. However, there are few RSA studies on Prunus spp., mostly due to the tedious and time-consuming labor of measuring below-ground roots. A root-phenotyping experiment was developed to analyze the RSA of seedlings from ‘Okinawa’ and ‘Guardian’™ peach rootstocks. The seedlings were established in rhizoboxes and their root systems scanned and architecturally analyzed. The root-system depth:width ratio (D:W) throughout the experiment, as well as the root morphological parameters, the depth rooting parameters, and the root angular spread were estimated. The ‘Okinawa’ exhibited greater root morphological traits, as well as the other parameters, confirming the relevance of the spatial disposition and growth pattern of the root system.
