Root Phenoboxes with Enhanced Growth Resistance

VSI Root Phenobox. Root phenotboxes were developed in order to efficiently determine realistic genotypic differences in rooting patterns of crops, inspired by the HT RhizoChamber Monitoring platform (Wu et al., 2018). Similar to the classical growth pouches, phenoboxes allow sequential imaging of roots growing in a soil-free HT phenotyping system. The root phenobox design is described below in greater detail. In brief, roots grow along transparent acrylic (PMMA) panels (front and back) in front of a woven fabric, membrane or growing paper of choice. A middle layer of 'spongy', elastic EPDM removes gaps and gently presses the growing paper / fabric against the transparent panels - creating an enhanced growth resistance. As roots cannot penetrate the growing paper/cloth/membrane, the entire root system can be imaged with flat bed scanners or camera systems, and root images can be analysed using one of the available (free) imaging software solutions. Optional, custom-made shading panels and racks are available for the dark, vertical and space effective placement of phenoboxes. 

The VSI Root Phenobox system combines the qualities of classic germination pouches/growth paper and sophisticated Rhizotubes(TM) approaches by providing a more rigid, highly reproducible environment for soil-free root phenotyping, while avoiding soil effects as in rhizobox approaches. By offering two imaging sides, each root phenobox can hold at least two root systems (one from each side), and is thus space efficient for placement under controlled environments. A constant space between two sheets of transparent PMMA ('acrylic') is created by black PMMA spacers ('frame'), the thickness of which is carefully chosen to match the thickness of the EPDM and the growing paper (when wet). The lower spacer has cut-outs to allow free drainage. A sheet of elastic ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) is placed in the centre between the two acrylic panels to provide an even, light pressure on the roots - avoiding gaps between the cloth/paper and the acrylic window and thus preventing / reducing preferential root growth along gaps. This results in increased growth resistance to the developing root systems, rendering root establishment more realistic. The VSI Root Phenoboxes can be top-fertilised; the solution is then infiltrated through the growing paper/cloth etc. Alternatively, the bottom of the germination paper / fabric can be tapped into a water reservoir as in a "classic" growth pouch. Due to their rigidity, the root phenoboxes can be integrated into high throughput phenotyping platforms as demonstrated (Wu et al., 2018). As the VSI phenoboxes (and optional PhenoRacks, Shading Panels) can be fully customised in size, please get in contact.