Morphological characteristics of soybean root apexes as indicators of soil compaction

Características morfológicas de ápices de raízes de soja como indicadores de compactação do solo

Abstracts

Plant soil compaction poses a serious problem to agriculture because it produces different types of changes in plant characteristics. No method has been implemented to date to use root morphological changes as indicators of soil compaction levels. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether or not the morphological changes in root apexes of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) can be used as indicators of soil compaction levels. To this end, a silt-loamy soil material (from a Typic Argiudoll, Esperanza series), sieved through a 2 mm mesh was used and the following soil bulk density levels were determined: 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 g cm³ for which the corresponding mechanical resistances were < 0.1, 0.5 and 3.5 MPa, respectively. The distance from the apex to the first tertiary root and the root diameter at 1.5 cm from the apex were measured on the secondary root apexes. A form factor equal to the quotient between these two variables was subsequently calculated. An inverse relationship between soil mechanical impedance and secondary root length and form factor as well as a direct relationship with the secondary root diameter were observed. Changes in rhizodermis cells were also recorded. The following morphological characteristics were found to evidence the highest sensitivity to soil compaction: i) the form factor, ii) rhizodermis papillose cells, iii) apical malformations in root hairs, and iv) root diameter in expansion areas. Taken together, the morphological characteristics of root apexes could be considered to be indicative of soil compaction.

Glycine max; mechanical impedance; root indicator; root hair

A compactação do solo causa severos problemas devido a que gera diferentes mudanças nas características das plantas. Não existem métodos que possibilitem o uso das mudanças da morfologia das raízes como indicadores de níveis de compactação do solo. Avaliaram-se se alterações morfológicas nos ápices de soja podem ser utilizadas como indicadores de graus de compactação do solo. Solo peneirado a 2 mm, classificado como Typic Argiudol (série Esperanza), foi compactado até atingir os seguintes valores de densidade do solo: 1.1, 1.3 e 1.5 g cm³, para os quais corresponderam os valores de resistência mecânica de < 0.1, 0.5 e 3.5 MPa, respectivamente. A distância desde o ápice até a primeira raiz terciária e o diâmetro a 1.5 cm desde o ápice foram medidos nas raízes secundarias. Um fator de forma foi calculado fazendo o quociente entre as duas variáveis medidas. Houve uma relação inversa entre o cumprimento da raiz secundaria e fator de forma com a resistência mecânica, e uma relação direta entre esta ultima e o diâmetro das raízes secundárias. Alterações nas células da rizoderme foram determinadas. As seguintes características morfológicas se mostraram muito sensíveis a compactação do solo: i) o fator de forma, ii) as células papilosas da rizoderme, iii) malformações apicais nos pelos das raízes, e iv) diâmetro das raízes em áreas de expansão. As características morfológicas dos ápices das raízes podem ser consideradas indicadores de compactação dos solos.

Glycine max; resistência mecânica; pelos radiculares; raiz como indicador

SOILS AND PLANT NUTRITION

Morphological characteristics of soybean root apexes as indicators of soil compaction

Características morfológicas de ápices de raízes de soja como indicadores de compactação do solo

Julio César Ramos^I,*; Silvia Del Carmen Imhoff^II; Miguel Ángel Pilatti^II; Abelardo Carlos Vegetti^I

^IUNL/FCA Depto. de Biología, Kreder 2805, S3080HOF Esperanza, Santa Fe Argentina

^IIUNL/FCA Depto. de Ciencias del Ambiente

ABSTRACT

Plant soil compaction poses a serious problem to agriculture because it produces different types of changes in plant characteristics. No method has been implemented to date to use root morphological changes as indicators of soil compaction levels. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether or not the morphological changes in root apexes of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) can be used as indicators of soil compaction levels. To this end, a silt-loamy soil material (from a Typic Argiudoll, Esperanza series), sieved through a 2 mm mesh was used and the following soil bulk density levels were determined: 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 g cm³ for which the corresponding mechanical resistances were < 0.1, 0.5 and 3.5 MPa, respectively. The distance from the apex to the first tertiary root and the root diameter at 1.5 cm from the apex were measured on the secondary root apexes. A form factor equal to the quotient between these two variables was subsequently calculated. An inverse relationship between soil mechanical impedance and secondary root length and form factor as well as a direct relationship with the secondary root diameter were observed. Changes in rhizodermis cells were also recorded. The following morphological characteristics were found to evidence the highest sensitivity to soil compaction: i) the form factor, ii) rhizodermis papillose cells, iii) apical malformations in root hairs, and iv) root diameter in expansion areas. Taken together, the morphological characteristics of root apexes could be considered to be indicative of soil compaction.

Key words:Glycine max, mechanical impedance, root indicator, root hairs

RESUMO

A compactação do solo causa severos problemas devido a que gera diferentes mudanças nas características das plantas. Não existem métodos que possibilitem o uso das mudanças da morfologia das raízes como indicadores de níveis de compactação do solo. Avaliaram-se se alterações morfológicas nos ápices de soja podem ser utilizadas como indicadores de graus de compactação do solo. Solo peneirado a 2 mm, classificado como Typic Argiudol (série Esperanza), foi compactado até atingir os seguintes valores de densidade do solo: 1.1, 1.3 e 1.5 g cm³, para os quais corresponderam os valores de resistência mecânica de < 0.1, 0.5 e 3.5 MPa, respectivamente. A distância desde o ápice até a primeira raiz terciária e o diâmetro a 1.5 cm desde o ápice foram medidos nas raízes secundarias. Um fator de forma foi calculado fazendo o quociente entre as duas variáveis medidas. Houve uma relação inversa entre o cumprimento da raiz secundaria e fator de forma com a resistência mecânica, e uma relação direta entre esta ultima e o diâmetro das raízes secundárias. Alterações nas células da rizoderme foram determinadas. As seguintes características morfológicas se mostraram muito sensíveis a compactação do solo: i) o fator de forma, ii) as células papilosas da rizoderme, iii) malformações apicais nos pelos das raízes, e iv) diâmetro das raízes em áreas de expansão. As características morfológicas dos ápices das raízes podem ser consideradas indicadores de compactação dos solos.

Palavras-chave:Glycine max, resistência mecânica, pelos radiculares, raiz como indicador

Introduction

Several studies have been carried out on the morphological and physiological changes in roots growing in compact soil layers (Bengouh et al., 1993; Lynch, 1995; Montagu et al., 2001). In roots growing in compacted soils these changes have negative effects on the aerial part of plants because they reduce both the expansion foliar rate and stomatic conductance (Letey, 1985; Beemster and Masle, 1996; Bingham and Bengough, 2003; Young, et al., 1997). No method has been implemented to date to use root morphological changes as indicators of soil compaction levels.

Usually, soils exhibit cracks among aggregates or structural units. On account of the fact that roots preferably grow in cracks (Dardanelli et al., 2004), both the type and size of soil structural units are key to the distribution of roots (Logdson et al., 1987; Scholefield and Hall, 1985). During root growth, soil mechanical resistance alters tissue expansion (Bengough et al. 1993; Bengough et al., 2006) and cell division mechanisms (Croser et al., 1999). Interestingly, roots of either short or long diameter are generally found in compacted soils (Croser et al., 1999; Konôpka et al., 2009). Root widening occurs as a result of the radial expansion of cortical parenchymal cells rather than as a consequence of the emergence of new cell files in the cortex (Atwell, 1989; Croser et al., 2000). Soil compaction induces changes in the morphology of absorbent hairs and F-actin cytoskeleton (Alessa and Earnhart, 2000), both of which are crucial to root hair functioning (Dolan and Davies, 2004). Because soil mechanical resistance affects root cell expansion (Bengough et al., 2006) as well as root cell growth and root form (Goodman and Ennos, 1999), roots growing in compacted soils have a characteristic form. Therefore, we hypothesise that root length and diameter are direct indicators of the degree of soil compaction.

The root morphological characteristics can be easily measured either with free software such as Rootedge (Kaspar and Ewing, 1997), Rootfly (Clemson University, 2008), image analysers or with more sophisticated, licensed software such as WinRhizo (Regent Instruments, 2000) analyser. Furthermore, root length and root diameter have the advantage of showing directly the effect of soil compaction on roots. In view of this, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether or not the morphological changes in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) root apexes could be considered as indicators of soil compaction levels.

Material and Methods

Soybean seeds (cultivar RA 518) were sterilized superficially in 0.05% sodium hypochlorite solution for 10 min and were subsequently washed in distilled water (Schroeder-Murphy et al., 1990). They were then put in Petri dishes with wet tissue paper in a growth chamber at 24ºC during 2 d. Pregerminated seeds were transplanted in PVC cylinders (height 22 cm, internal diameter 10 cm) and were grown in the glasshouse at 22.5°C with 13-h-photoperiod cycle during 18 days. A sample took from a silt-loamy soil and sieved through a 2 mm mesh (Typic Argiudol, Esperanza series) was used. Plants were watered with a nutritive solution (Hoagland and Arnon, 1950). Once the plants had the first trifoliated leaf fully expanded, the root systems were harvested and fixed in a solution of ascetic acid, formol, and alcohol (FAA) (Johansen, 1940) for 48hs. They were subsequently conserved in alcohol at 70º until they were analysed.

Three soil compaction levels were determined: 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 g cm³. Dry soil in each pot was weighted and changed accordingly so that they all reached these compaction levels. Loose soil was wetted with a spray to stimulate compaction. The volume of Hoagland solution employed was 15% of the dry weight of the soil used. The wetted soil fractions were subsequently put in plastic pots with a hydraulic press. Soil compaction occurred gradually at layers. Compaction pressures of 2, 7.5 and 14.0 MPa were respectively determined for the 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 g cm³ treatments for homogeneous densification. The PVC cylinders were finally watered with Hoagland solution. The volume of Hoagland solution used freed 15% of the total porosity of compacted soil. In order to prevent nutritive solution from evaporating, the pots were protected with plastic bags, which had a small hole, thus allowing the stem to be uncovered. The plastic bags were removed daily during 30 min for airing. At the moment of transplant, unaltered soil samples were extracted from three pots of each compaction level using 7-cm-tall and 6-cm-in-diameter cylinders. Soil mechanical resistance was estimated on these samples using an electronic penetrometer with a cone top which was 4 mm in diameter (Tormena et al., 1999). Furthermore, the mechanical resistances measured < 0.1, 0.5 and 3.5 MPa were determined to correspond to the following compaction levels 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 g cm³, respectively. Three levels of soil mechanical resistance could thus be determined, namely: null (NR), low (LR), and high (HR). Plants grown at each compaction level are hereinafter referred to as NR plants, LR plants and HR plants.

For morphological studies, fixed roots were colored with a 0.1% neutral red solution (D'Ambrogio, 1986) and were digitalized with an "Image Pro-series" capture kit (from Media Cybernetics, USA). The distance from the apex to the first tertiary root (Lr) and the root diameter at 1.5 cm from the apex (Dr) were measured on the secondary root apexes using an Image Pro Plus software. The coefficient corresponding to both variables was thus obtained. This coefficient is the form factor that indicates the number of times in which the first order root diameter is included in the root length (Nd1). Histological preparations were permanently made following Berlyn and Miksche (1976) to observe the root transverse section of the expansion area.

Data normality was verified for each variable and both variance analysis and Fisher test were carried out to estimate the statistical differences in the treatments. The statistical analysis was conducted using an InfoStad software.

Results

Soil mechanical resistance modified the shape of the root transverse section. In NR plants, the secondary root transverse section was circular, whereas in LR and HR plants, it was oval (Figure 1). However, the changes in shape in the HR plants were more marked as roots were found to have a ribbon-like shape (Figure 1F). The differences in shape in the transverse section of HR plants are associated with the cortex thickness. In this respect, no increase in the number of cortical cell files was observed in the widest area of the cortex. The cells located in the area of a largest diameter were found to expand, whereas those located in the sector of minimum diameter were found to be radially compressed. A similar phenomenon was observed in the transverse section of secondary roots of LR plants, although the changes in the cell shape of the cortical parenchyma were not as marked as those in HR plants.

The geometrical dimensions of soybean root apexes underwent changes as a result of soil compaction (Table 1). Secondary root apex distance to the first tertiary root (Lr) decreased as soil mechanical resistance increased. The differences was found only in HR plants compared to NR and LR plants. In contrast, the diameter of secondary roots and the quotient of both variables (Nd1) evidenced a positive relationship with the soil compaction level. The smallest diameter of secondary roots corresponded to NR plants. The mean value was 0.39 mm. As to HR plants, Dr increased to 0.70 mm, a significantly higher value than that corresponding to NR plants. Significant differences in Lr, Dr and Nd1 were observed in HR plants with respect to NR and LR plants. Dr and Nd1 clearly showed the effect of soil mechanical impedance on root morphology.

Dispersion diagrams (Figure 2) show an inverse relationship between soil mechanical impedance and Lr and Nd1, and a direct relationship with Dr. Variables Nd1 and Dr proved to be the morphological characters that best evidenced the effect of soil compaction on roots. Table 2 shows, for each of the variables analyzed in NR and LR plants, the probabilities of occurrence of Lr, Dr and Nd1 percentiles in HR plants, which are considered as limiting values to differentiate stressed roots from non-stressed ones. In the case of Lr, and based on the percentile 90 of the highest impedance level (43.2 mm), results evidenced a probability of occurrence of 74% and 62% in NR and LR plants, respectively. The probability that Dr could be higher than the percentile value 10 (0.47 mm) was 21% and 42% for NR and LR plants, respectively. The probability that Nd1 could be lower than the percentile value 90 (63 mm) was 4.3% and 7.3% for NR and LR plants, respectively.

Changes were also observed in the shape of rhizodermal cells. In HR plants, some hairs from the absorption area were found to have a bifurcation-like malformation in their apical sector. In addition, cells having external walls, which were either convex or papillose (Figure 3), were observed in the rhizodermis of the root hairs' zone. These cells, which were not yet fully trichoblasts, were found to be clearly differentiated from atrichoblasts.

Discussion

The changes observed in roots in the present study as a result of soil compaction agree with previous findings (Bengough et al., 1993; Goodman and Ennos, 1999; Konôpka et al., 2009). In our research, the roots growing with 3.5 MPa were found shorter and wider. However, Dr and Nd1 were found to be more sensitive to soil compaction. The values of 0.7 mm and 46 for Dr and Nd1, respectively, were good indicators of soil compaction. In addition, the values of 0.52 mm and 63 for Dr and Nd1, both corresponding to percentiles 0.1 and 0.9, respectively, could be considered as a dividing line between compacted soils and those which are not. Furthermore, variable Nd1 is a useful tool not only to show (F 106.88) differences among roots but also to clear distinguish roots growing in compacted soils from those growing in loose soils (4-7%). On the other hand, Nd1 was estimated based on two morphological characteristics of roots. Thus, as edaphic factors may generate similar responses, the morphological characters of roots become very useful tools to easy identify different types of edaphic stress.

The oval-shaped tranverse section of roots in LR and HR plants is not associated with an increase in the number of the cortex cell files. In agreement with Atwell (1989; 1990), this section in LR and HR plants results from an increase in the diameter of the cortex cells in a radial direction (Croser et al., 1999; Bengough et al., 2006) (Figure 1). Baluška et al. (1995) claimed that the posmitotic isodiametric cell growth (PIG) region seems to be the site where radial widening of cortex cells occurs. However, this widening does not occur in all cells. Only the inner cortex cells are radially widened all along the largest root diameter, this being the reason why the transverse section of such roots is oval. This oval shape in roots could be due to the fact that the cell division does not occur in the PIG region (Ishikawa and Evans, 1993; Baluška, 1990; Baluška et al., 1995), and to the fact that the radial increase in cortical cells in more than one plane may induce the rupture of epidermis and outer cortex cells as a result of the tension produced by inner cortex cells.

The presence of soil planes with different mechanical resistances (Whiteley and Dexter, 1983) could be due to the formation of ribbon-like roots (Goodman and Ennos, 1999). Furthermore, animal and machinery trafficking as well as the way in which compaction levels were obtained in the present research all indicate that force direction applied to soil is vertical. This type of events produces a rearrangement of soil particles, which stimulates the development of a laminar structure. In addition, roots may find low resistance to grow horizontally but high resistance to grow vertically. Thus, vertically, soil behaves as a rigid environment, making roots grow with no malformations in the pores of either the same or larger diameter, whereas in those of smaller diameter cortex malformations could be produced (Scholefield and Hall, 1985) because these roots cannot overcome soil strength.

Developing roots are composed of tissues, which are different from each other in terms of i) polarity of their cellular constituents, ii) structure of their cell walls, and iii) physical tension pattern (Baluška et al., 1995). When tissue organs are formed under unfavourable environmental conditions, their shape is determined by the environmental factors intervening during their formation (Dolan and Davies, 2004).

The morphological changes in absorbent hairs observed in the present research (Figure 3) are not the same as those recorded by Alessa and Earnhart (2000). The presence of malformations in hairs and papilla-like cells seems to be related to changes in the cell cytoskeleton when these cells are under mechanical stress (Cleary and Hardham, 1993; Zandomeni and Schopfer, 1994; Hush and Overall, 1996).

Conclusion

The morphological characters of radical apexes are potential indicators of compact soil areas. Root diameter in expansion areas as well as the relationship between diameter and length from the apical apex to the point from which a lateral root grows, are the characters that, in fact, evidence highest sensitivity to soil compaction.

Received March 13, 2009

Accepted May 31, 2010

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  23 May 2011
• Date of issue
  Dec 2010

History

• Received
  13 Mar 2009
• Accepted
  31 May 2010