Computational Modelling Group

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• Plant Root X-Ray CT Scanning and Image Analysis

Web page

http://www.southampton.ac.uk/muvis/

Categories

Archaeology, Climate, Complex Systems, Developmental Biology, Earth Observation, Earth surface dynamics, Ecology, Systems biology

Submitter

Petrina Butler

Joint Engineering and Biology Seminar

We have pleasure to welcome Sacha Mooney to visit the muVIS facility at Southampton and to give an interdisciplinary seminar on the work he does in the area of plant root and soil imaging at the University of Nottingham.

Sacha is a leading researcher in the UK in the area of CT scanning of soils and plants. His topic is particularly important to Southampton due to our own recently launched multiscale x-ray CT scanning facility at the Faculty of Engineering and Environment. Thus, we encourage everybody with an interest in CT scanning and analysing of "messy" biological samples to attend. In addition anybody with an interest in soil imaging, soil water movement estimation and imaging might also find this seminar useful.

Abstract

The physical structure of the rhizosphere (the small volume of soil surrounding roots) has been largely overlooked because of the difficulties in observing it in any meaningful way. It is fragile, dynamic and opaque however it is roundly agreed that it is a crucial zone for plant development through the transfer of water and nutrients. Yet, our understanding of how roots interact with the surrounding soil remains limited because it is difficult to visualise them without disturbance. Non-invasive techniques such as X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) now provide an opportunity to visualise root architecture in three dimensions (3-D) within undisturbed soils. However one problem with using CT to visualise roots is the attenuation coefficient of root material is very similar to organic matter and water filled pore spaces. Drying can reduce this problem; however the soil structure could then be altered which is not desired. One exciting approach has been the application of root tracing tools to predict root material using multivariate probability algorithms. As more research is focussed on creating tracing and thresholding algorithms, the subjectivity will be removed and the speed at which data can be obtained will increase remarkably. Understanding the interaction between soil structure and root growth has never been more important with respect to issues such as land degradation, as soil structure determines the availability of edaphic resources (e.g. water and nutrients). With a rapidly increasing global population and the threat of a changing climate, maximising plant productivity and developing sustainable soil management strategies are vital for food security.