A Minirhizotron System for In Situ Root Observation Studies of Seyval Grapevines

¹ Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA 48824.
² Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA 48824.

Root distribution and dynamics of Seyval grapevines were measured in situ by the nondestructive minirhizotron and portable microcamera system. Transparent polybuterate tubes were inserted at 45 degrees to the soil surface within the rows of vines 30 cm from the base of each vine at intervals of 60 cm. Polybuterate tubes were installed to a vertical depth of 127 cm in a Kalamazoo loam soil (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludolf). Root numbers in each 2.16 cm² of the upper surfaces of the transparent tubes, at intervals of 1.2 cm, were counted from video recordings of the root images. This method of observing root dynamics was used to determine the depth, development, distribution, and turnover rates of roots of grapevines containing 0 and 6 clusters of fruits per vine which were subjected to optimum and deficit soil water conditions.

Key words: minirhizotron, non destructive assays, root number, root distribution, and root dynamics

Submitted on June 6, 1990

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