Root Plasticity Under Controlled Water Conditions: Methods and Setup

Root plasticity in response to water availability is studied using X-ray CT, WinRHIZO, transcriptomics, and metabolomics in controlled conditions. A multi-method approach enables 3D root system architecture analysis, quantification of root size and diameter, gene expression profiling, and metabolic phenotyping. Acrylic glass columns (5–7 cm diameter, 25 cm high) filled with sieved soil and fitted with 30 µm mesh are used, with capillary irrigation and climate chamber growth (12 m³). CT scans are performed during the night phase to avoid disrupting photosynthesis. Samples for transcriptomics and metabolomics are collected over 24 hours post-scan. Soil columns are wrapped in aluminium foil to limit light exposure and algal growth. The method is suitable for mineral soils and relies on X-ray CT, WinRHIZO, and climate chambers. Figure 1 shows maize root development in sandy soil over 21 days at 45 µm resolution, with segmentation using Root2Res2 and visualisation in VcStudio Max.