A New, More Efficient Method to Evaluate Root Growth Potential of Planting Stock Using a Root Area Index


Root growth potential (RGP), the ability of seedlings to promptly and abundantly initiate and elongate new roots after transplanting, is an important and useful attribute of planting stock performance. However, it is generally laborious, tedious, and subjective to measure. A method was developed that employs aeroponic culture of seedlings in a root mist chamber (RMC) and measurement of root growth by changes in root area index (RAI) with a TV camerabased microprocessor area measurement system. The area meter scans each horizontal TV line and sums the segments that are traversed by roots. A high resolution camera was used for accurate area measurement of roots. The method consists of: (1) pre-measuring RAI of individual seedlings, (2) growing seedlings in the RMC for ca. 2 weeks (depending on species), (3) staining new roots to make them visible to the camera, and (4) remeasuring RAI of individual seedlings.
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Publication Forest Nursery Proceedings
Event Tumwater, WA - 1986
Author W. J. Rietveld
Published 1986/08/12
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