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Root Development pp 23–32Cite as

Phenotyping Crop Root Crowns: General Guidance and Specific Protocols for Maize, Wheat, and Soybean

Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB,volume 1761)

Abstract

Root crown phenotyping allows measuring many parameters that describe the top portion of crop root systems and can be used for the basis of genome-wide association studies, QTL analysis, and physiology studies. Root crown phenotyping is a relatively simple process, with the major steps being excavation, transport, soil removal, and measurements. On the other hand, all steps require substantial manual labor and occur outside in challenging environments, and many factors influence the ultimate success of applying this methodology to research questions. Here, general guidance is given for how to optimize root crown phenotyping for unique research questions, and specific protocols are given for acquiring images of root crowns of three crop species: maize, wheat, and soybean.

Key words

  • Corn
  • Crop
  • Phenomics
  • Nutrient use efficiency
  • Root system architecture
  • Soya
  • Trait
  • Water use efficiency

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  • DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7747-5_2
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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Noble Research Institute, Ardmore, OK, USA

    Larry M. York

Authors
  1. Larry M. York
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Larry M. York .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Vienna, Wien, Austria

    Daniela Ristova

  2. Institute of Applied Genetics & Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Wien, Austria

    Ph.D. Elke Barbez

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York, L.M. (2018). Phenotyping Crop Root Crowns: General Guidance and Specific Protocols for Maize, Wheat, and Soybean. In: Ristova, D., Barbez, E. (eds) Root Development. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1761. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7747-5_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7747-5_2

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7746-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7747-5

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