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Rhizosphere by Design
This project aims to develop an understanding of how root traits physically manipulate soil properties in the rhizosphere. The team will use novel crop lines with different root traits, as well as noninvasive imaging and numerical modeling, to study how root exudation, hairs, and aging impact soil structure formation. Parameters like bulk density, water content, and flow properties will be measured. The results could inform screening of crop ideotypes and the development of models linking root traits to rhizosphere function and crop productivity. The ultimate goals are to verify findings under field conditions and disseminate knowledge to industry and farmers.
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Rhizosphere by Design
- 1. Rhizosphere by design:breeding to select root traits that physically manipulate soil Project PIs Paul Hallett, Aberdeen Tiina Roose and Ian Sinclair, Southampton Glyn Bengough, Dundee Tim George, James Hutton Institute (sub- contract) Team Members Muhammad Naveed and Annette Raffan, Aberdeen Laura Cooper, Nico Koebernick, Keith Daley and Sam Keyes, Southampton Technician TBD, Dundee Lawrie Brown, James Hutton Institute
- 2. Plant Science SoilScience Scientists have only interpreted the world in various ways, but the real task is to alter it. J.R Philip’s re-phrasing of a famous quote from Karl Marx Philip, J.R. 1991. Soil Science, 151, 91-98.
- 3. Rhizosphere by design:Aims This project will develop our understanding of the basic processes that drive rhizosphere formation and function. We aim to develop novel numerical models that identify and describe how root trait ideotypes manipulate the physical properties of the soil, and the implications for improving resource capture in the field. Root traits including exudation, production of root hair zones and ageing of roots will be explored to interpret processes from the root-soil interface to the field.
- 4. Plants alter theirsoil physical habitat INRA, France (Chenu) BBSRC SARISA ProjectBBSRC BBS/B/16720 BBSRC D20454 Initial Bulk soil Root zone
- 5. Different crop lineshave different root traits. How do they impact the soil physical habitat? Soil Bulk Density, g cm -3 1.2 1.6 1.7 RhizosheathMass,gcm -1 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Root Hair Mutant, 0 mg P kg -1 Root Hair Mutant, 500 mg P kg-1 Wildtype, 0 mg P kg -1 Wildtype, 500 mg P kg -1 a b c d e a b b e e e e Water content, g 100-1 30 35 40 45 50 55 FlowPoint,Pa 102 103 104 2ºC Incubation ○ Control ■ 1.5 mg C g soil-1 ▲ 15 mg C g soil-1 16ºC Incubation ○ Control ■ 1.5 mg C g soil-1 ▲ 15 mg C g soil-1
- 6. Parameters needed tomodel how roots drive soil structure Hydrological Mechanical Precipitation Evapotransipration Shrink-Swell Capillary Cohesion Root Reinforcement Fluid Viscosity Surface Tension Contact Angle Bond Energy Swelling Potential Granular Mechanics Organic Matter Pore Clogging/ Roughness Bioturbation
- 7. Novel plants Differing roottraits - Hairy and Hairless Barley and Maize mutants. Exudation Physical measurements of exudate propertie s and the impact on soil structure formation Noninvasive imaging X-Ray and Synchrotron CT to visualise soil structure formation in the rhizospere. This uses the -Vis facility at the University of Southampton. Numerical modelling Using data of root trait and soil propertie s t o model impacts of roots on rhizosphere formation and the e ffect on the plant. Glasshouse to fie l d Control of soil condition s. Long-term til l ag e trials to test interactio n s wi th soi l and robustness of root traits. Technologies
- 8. Technique development –model mucilages 9 Natural 1:2 1:5 1:10 1:50 1:100 1:1000 As extracted dilution
- 9. Surface tension ofmucilage Method: Force Tensiometer Two probes were used 1. DuNüoy Ring (quasi-static because the movement of the ring) 2. Wilhelmy plate (static method) 10
- 10. Surface tension ofmucilage Water 11 50 53 56 59 62 65 68 71 74 0.003 0.03 0.3 3 30 Surfacetension(mNm-1) Chia mucilage concentration (mg g-1) DuNuoy Ring Wilhelmy plate
- 11. 12 50 53 56 59 62 65 68 71 74 0.002 0.02 0.22 20 Surfacetension(mNm-1) Chia mucilage concentration (mg g-1) 0 day 1 day 3 day 7 day Surface tension of mucilage with microbial decomposition
- 12. Rheology of chiaseed mucilage and mucilage:soil Sample: Chia seed of seven different concentrations Method: Amplitude sweep test was used Strain time Pictures: 13
- 13. Effect of mucilage(2.75 mg g-1 soil) and decomposition on soil rheology 14 1 10 100 1000 10000 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 Flowpoint(Pa) Water content (%) Soil + Mucilage 16C incubated Soil+mucilage 4C incubated Soil+ water 16C incubated
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- 15. Hypothesised changes insaturated hydraulic conductivity (K), contact angle (θ) and surface tension (γ) with distance along the root. Why we see it? Why it matters? Rhizosphere soil Bulk soil
- 16. From basic understandingto field verification Minimum Tillage Plough
- 17. Deliverables 1. Rhizosphere formationand function model: root traitssoil propertiesroot functioncrop productivity 2. Quantitative data on how root traits ‘engineer’ soil. 3. Screening of crops for root trait impacts. 4. Phenotyping from root hair to root system scale. 5. KE for industry, farming and schools.
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- 20. Pathways to Impact- Coming Up Education resources and outreach Stakeholder engagement ISMC – Austin, TX
- 21. Our project team PaulHallett, Lead, Soil Biophysics Muhammad Naveed, PDRA Experimental Annette Raffan, Technical Support Glyn Bengough, PI and Root Biophysics Technical Support Tim George, Root Biology Lawrie Brown, Root Biology Tiina Roose, PI and Modelling Lead Laura Cooper & Keith Daly, Modelling Ian Sinclair, Imaging Nico Koebernick, Ian Sinclair (CoI) & Sam Keyes, Imaging