Development of a phenotyping platform for high throughput screening of nodal root angle in sorghum
Abstract Background In sorghum, the growth angle of nodal roots is a major component of root system architecture. It strongly influences the spatial distribution of roots of mature plants in the soil profile, which can impact drought adaptation. However, selection for nodal root angle in sorghum bre...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Plant Methods |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13007-017-0206-2 |
| _version_ | 1818424514664464384 |
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| author | Dinesh C. Joshi Vijaya Singh Colleen Hunt Emma Mace Erik van Oosterom Richard Sulman David Jordan Graeme Hammer |
| author_facet | Dinesh C. Joshi Vijaya Singh Colleen Hunt Emma Mace Erik van Oosterom Richard Sulman David Jordan Graeme Hammer |
| author_sort | Dinesh C. Joshi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In sorghum, the growth angle of nodal roots is a major component of root system architecture. It strongly influences the spatial distribution of roots of mature plants in the soil profile, which can impact drought adaptation. However, selection for nodal root angle in sorghum breeding programs has been restricted by the absence of a suitable high throughput phenotyping platform. The aim of this study was to develop a phenotyping platform for the rapid, non-destructive and digital measurement of nodal root angle of sorghum at the seedling stage. Results The phenotyping platform comprises of 500 soil filled root chambers (50 × 45 × 0.3 cm in size), made of transparent perspex sheets that were placed in metal tubs and covered with polycarbonate sheets. Around 3 weeks after sowing, once the first flush of nodal roots was visible, roots were imaged in situ using an imaging box that included two digital cameras that were remotely controlled by two android tablets. Free software (openGelPhoto.tcl) allowed precise measurement of nodal root angle from the digital images. The reliability and efficiency of the platform was evaluated by screening a large nested association mapping population of sorghum and a set of hybrids in six independent experimental runs that included up to 500 plants each. The platform revealed extensive genetic variation and high heritability (repeatability) for nodal root angle. High genetic correlations and consistent ranking of genotypes across experimental runs confirmed the reproducibility of the platform. Conclusion This low cost, high throughput root phenotyping platform requires no sophisticated equipment, is adaptable to most glasshouse environments and is well suited to dissect the genetic control of nodal root angle of sorghum. The platform is suitable for use in sorghum breeding programs aiming to improve drought adaptation through root system architecture manipulation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T13:59:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1937135980234a3ab555c69816aba91f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-4811 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T13:59:15Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plant Methods |
| spelling | doaj.art-1937135980234a3ab555c69816aba91f2022-12-21T22:58:46ZengBMCPlant Methods1746-48112017-07-0113111210.1186/s13007-017-0206-2Development of a phenotyping platform for high throughput screening of nodal root angle in sorghumDinesh C. Joshi0Vijaya Singh1Colleen Hunt2Emma Mace3Erik van Oosterom4Richard Sulman5David Jordan6Graeme Hammer7ICAR- Indian Grassland and Fodder Research InstituteQueensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of QueenslandDepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hermitage Research FacilityDepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hermitage Research FacilityQueensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of QueenslandBiosystems EngineeringQueensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Hermitage Research Facility, The University of QueenslandQueensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of QueenslandAbstract Background In sorghum, the growth angle of nodal roots is a major component of root system architecture. It strongly influences the spatial distribution of roots of mature plants in the soil profile, which can impact drought adaptation. However, selection for nodal root angle in sorghum breeding programs has been restricted by the absence of a suitable high throughput phenotyping platform. The aim of this study was to develop a phenotyping platform for the rapid, non-destructive and digital measurement of nodal root angle of sorghum at the seedling stage. Results The phenotyping platform comprises of 500 soil filled root chambers (50 × 45 × 0.3 cm in size), made of transparent perspex sheets that were placed in metal tubs and covered with polycarbonate sheets. Around 3 weeks after sowing, once the first flush of nodal roots was visible, roots were imaged in situ using an imaging box that included two digital cameras that were remotely controlled by two android tablets. Free software (openGelPhoto.tcl) allowed precise measurement of nodal root angle from the digital images. The reliability and efficiency of the platform was evaluated by screening a large nested association mapping population of sorghum and a set of hybrids in six independent experimental runs that included up to 500 plants each. The platform revealed extensive genetic variation and high heritability (repeatability) for nodal root angle. High genetic correlations and consistent ranking of genotypes across experimental runs confirmed the reproducibility of the platform. Conclusion This low cost, high throughput root phenotyping platform requires no sophisticated equipment, is adaptable to most glasshouse environments and is well suited to dissect the genetic control of nodal root angle of sorghum. The platform is suitable for use in sorghum breeding programs aiming to improve drought adaptation through root system architecture manipulation.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13007-017-0206-2DroughtHigh throughput phenotypingRoot system architectureNodal root angleSorghum |
| spellingShingle | Dinesh C. Joshi Vijaya Singh Colleen Hunt Emma Mace Erik van Oosterom Richard Sulman David Jordan Graeme Hammer Development of a phenotyping platform for high throughput screening of nodal root angle in sorghum Plant Methods Drought High throughput phenotyping Root system architecture Nodal root angle Sorghum |
| title | Development of a phenotyping platform for high throughput screening of nodal root angle in sorghum |
| title_full | Development of a phenotyping platform for high throughput screening of nodal root angle in sorghum |
| title_fullStr | Development of a phenotyping platform for high throughput screening of nodal root angle in sorghum |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a phenotyping platform for high throughput screening of nodal root angle in sorghum |
| title_short | Development of a phenotyping platform for high throughput screening of nodal root angle in sorghum |
| title_sort | development of a phenotyping platform for high throughput screening of nodal root angle in sorghum |
| topic | Drought High throughput phenotyping Root system architecture Nodal root angle Sorghum |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13007-017-0206-2 |
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