A simple phenotyping method for deep-rooting rice grown in pots

Deep rooting, which enables plants to extract water from greater soil depths, is a critical strategy for improving plant survival under water-deficient conditions. However, as it is difficult to observe intact root systems belowground, several techniques have been developed to screen deep- and shallow-rooting phenotypes in rice. Here, we introduce a simple and convenient method for deep- and shallow-rooting phenotyping using a unique combination of sand, soil, and plastic mesh netting. Vandana, a drought-tolerant rice variety, and Dongjin, a Korean japonica rice variety, were used to analyze root phenotypes. No significant differences in root length were observed in rice grown under irrigated conditions regardless of net position, whereas roots were significantly longer, and ratio of deep root (RDR) values were significantly higher in Vandana rice grown under semi-drought conditions. In summary, this simple and useful method represents a low-cost means of phenotyping the roots of rice and other crops grown in various-sized pots and at multiple plant growth stages.