Rhizotron: A Unique Technique for Root Study: A Review

Abstract

Roots, which holds the plant in the soil and responsible for water and nutrient uptake is the most unique plant part essential for survival. Root characters like length, diameter and surface area are the important parameters that have to be measured for evaluating root growth. Most of the methods used to study root development are extremely time consuming and tedious. Many techniques have been used to increase the accessibility of plant roots. Rhizotrons have been introduced to get over these restrictions. Rhizotron is a tool for observing the roots of the plants without destructing it. Research teams interested in root-shoot physiological relationships, root system reactions to local soil conditions, cultivar comparisons and mass balance studies of harvested soils find rhizotrons to be useful tools for studying plant roots. They often contain substantial, field-like amounts of soil, sensitive instrumentation and may offer some degree of control over root environmental parameters like temperature. Additionally, they may allow access to specific roots for testing and measurement. As more advanced non-destructive measurement techniques are employed to assess the root and soil parameters, the value of rhizotrons will rise. Modern minirhizotrons are well equipped with colour video camera and processor with improved quality. This review critically examines the numerous rhizotrons designed to provide real-time, non-destructive monitoring and sampling of rhizosphere ecosystems during a plant’s developmental stages.