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EZ‐R hizo : integrated software for the fast and accurate measurement of root system architecture
Author(s) -
Armengaud Patrick,
Zambaux Kevin,
Hills Adrian,
Sulpice Ronan,
Pattison Richard J.,
Blatt Michael R.,
Amtmann Anna
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2008.03739.x
Subject(s) - quantitative trait locus , plant root , root system , computer science , software , root (linguistics) , computational biology , biology , real time computing , botany , operating system , horticulture , genetics , linguistics , philosophy , gene
Summary The root system is essential for the growth and development of plants. In addition to anchoring the plant in the ground, it is the site of uptake of water and minerals from the soil. Plant root systems show an astonishing plasticity in their architecture, which allows for optimal exploitation of diverse soil structures and conditions. The signalling pathways that enable plants to sense and respond to changes in soil conditions, in particular nutrient supply, are a topic of intensive research, and root system architecture (RSA) is an important and obvious phenotypic output. At present, the quantitative description of RSA is labour intensive and time consuming, even using the currently available software, and the lack of a fast RSA measuring tool hampers forward and quantitative genetics studies. Here, we describe EZ‐R hizo : a Windows‐integrated and semi‐automated computer program designed to detect and quantify multiple RSA parameters from plants growing on a solid support medium. The method is non‐invasive, enabling the user to follow RSA development over time. We have successfully applied EZ‐R hizo to evaluate natural variation in RSA across 23 Arabidopsis thaliana accessions, and have identified new RSA determinants as a basis for future quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis.