Functional–structural root-system model validation using a soil MRI experiment. (19th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Koch, Axelle; Meunier, Félicien; Vanderborght, Jan; Garré, Sarah; Pohlmeier, Andreas; Javaux, Mathieu
• Is Part Of: Journal of experimental botany. Volume 70:Number 10(2019)
• Page Start: 2797
• Page End: 2809
• Publication Date: 2019-02-19
• Subjects: Functional–structural root-system model -- magnetic resonance imaging -- root hydraulic conductivities -- root water uptake -- R-SMWS -- tracer experiment; Botany -- Periodicals; Botany, Experimental -- Periodicals; Plant physiology -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz060
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0957

Abstract

Abstract : For the first time, a functional–structural root-system model is validated by combining a tracer experiment monitored with magnetic resonance imaging and three-dimensional modeling of water and solute transport. Abstract: Functional–structural root-system models simulate the relations between root-system architectural and hydraulic properties, and the spatio-temporal distributions of water and solutes in the root zone. Such models may help identify optimal plant properties for breeding and contribute to increased water-use efficiency. However, it must first be demonstrated that they accurately reproduce the processes they intend to describe. This is challenging because the flow and transport processes towards individual roots are hard to observe. In this study, we demonstrate how this problem can be addressed by combining co-registered root and tracer distributions obtained from magnetic resonance imaging with a root-system model in an inverse modeling scheme. The main features in the tracer distributions were well reproduced by the model using realistic root hydraulic parameters. By combining the functional–structural root-system model with 4D tracer observations, we were able to quantify the water uptake distribution of a growing root system. We determined that 76% of the transpiration was extracted through 3rd-order roots. The simulations also demonstrated that accurate water uptake distribution cannot be directly derived either from observations of tracer accumulation or from water depletion. However, detailed tracer experiments combined with process-based models help decipher mechanisms underlying root water uptake.