Fractal Analysis of Plant Root Systems

Tatsumi, Jiro; Yamauchi, Akira; Kono, Yasuhiro

doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a087871

Cited by 141 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Berntson [2] gives a review of the attempts to determine fractal dimensions of root systems. Beginning with Tatsumi et al [42], Berntson [2] notes that in all reviewed work dealing with real root structures (not just with abstract growth models), dimension estimation was only applied to planar projections of the root systems. Eshel [15] was to our knowledge the first to determine a fractal dimension d of a complete root system embedded in full 3-D space.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structure and fractal dimensions of root systems of four co-occurring fruit tree species from Botswana

et al. 2000

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-Coarse root systems of four different fruit tree species from southern Africa were completely excavated and semi-automatically digitized. Spatial distributions of root length were determined from the digitally-reconstructed branching systems. Furthermore, the fractal characteristic of the coarse root systems was shown by determining the box-counting dimensions. These quantitative methods revealed architectural differences between the species, probably due to different ecophysiological strategies. For fine root samples, which were taken before digging out the whole systems, fractal analysis of the planar projections showed no significant inter-species differences. Methodologically, the study underlines the usefulness of digital 3-D reconstruction in root research. root / digital reconstruction / fractal / architectural analysis / coarse root Résumé -Structures et dimensions fractales des systèmes racinaires provenant de quatre espèces d'arbres fruitiers de Botswana. Des systèmes de grosses racines, provenant de quatre espèces différentes d'arbres fruitiers d'Afrique du Sud, ont été complètement déterrés et digitalisés semi-automatiquement. Les distributions spatiales des longueurs de racines ont été calculées à partir des maquettes informatiques reconstituées. En outre, le caractère fractal des systèmes de grosses racines a été prouvé par une déter-mination de dimensions utilisant la méthode du comptage de boites. Ces méthodes quantitatives révèlent des différences architecturales entre les espèces, résultant probablement de différentes stratégies écophysiologiques. Pour les échantillons de racines fines, obtenus avant l'excavation des systèmes complets, l'analyse fractale des projections planes n'a pas montré de différences significatives entre les espèces. Concernant la méthode, l'étude fait apparaître l'apport de la reconstruction digitale 3-D dans le domaine de la recherche sur les appareils racinaires. racine / reconstruction digitale / fractal / analyse architectural / racine gros

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structure and fractal dimensions of root systems of four co-occurring fruit tree species from Botswana

et al. 2000

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“…Topological parameters can also be measured, such as altitude, magnitude, and exterior path length. Nielsen et al (1997Nielsen et al ( , 1999; Walk et al (2004) Betula populifolia Berntson (1994) Betula alleghaniensis Berntson (1994) Zea mays Costa et al (2003); Tatsumi et al (1989); Eghball et al (1993) Arachis hypogaea Tatsumi et al (1989) Panicum miliaceum Tatsumi et al (1989) Pisum sativum Tatsumi et al (1989) Secale cereale Tatsumi et al (1989) Sorghum bicolor Tatsumi et al (1989) Triticum aestivum Tatsumi et al (1989) Trifolium pratense Fitter and Stickland (1992) Trifollium repens Fitter and Stickland (1992) Plantago lanceolata Fitter and Stickland (1992) Festuca voina Fitter and Stickland (1992) Festuca nigrescens Fitter and Stickland (1992) Oryza sativa (Fitter and Stickland 1991] Advances in root system architecture and root development 25…”

Section: Experimental Methods For Measurement Of Root Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in experimental methods for root system architecture and root development

Wang

Zhang

2015

J. For. Res.

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Plant roots play important roles in acquisition of water and nutrients, storage, anchoring, transport, and symbiosis with soil microorganisms, thus quantitative researches on root developmental processes are essential to understand root functions and root turnover in ecosystems, and at the same time such researches are the most difficult because roots are hidden underground. Therefore, how to investigate efficiently root functions and root dynamics is the core aspect in underground ecology. In this article, we reviewed some experimental methods used in root researches on root development and root system architecture, and summarized the advantages and shortages of these methods. Based on the analyses, we proposed three new ways to more understand root processes: (1) new experimental materials for root development; (2) a new observatory system comprised of multiple components, including many observatory windows installed in field, analysis software, and automatic data transport devices; (3) new techniques used to analyze quantitatively functional roots.

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“…The shapes of the real root and that of the model root were compared in terms of fractal dimensions, since it is known that the root systems could be analyzed by fractals (Tatsumi, et al, 1989). By applying the box counting method, it was found that the fractal dimension for the case shown in Fig.…”

Section: Shape Of Root Elongationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A model of root elongation by dynamic contact interaction

et al. 2008

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O Or ri ig gi in na al l r re es se ea ar rc ch h a ar rt ti ic cl le e A model of root elongation by dynamic contact interactionAbstract: Recent findings on the functions of roots from the chemical and biological standpoints have strengthened the need for research on the mechanisms of root growth by physical and mathematical approaches. This study was aimed at developing a root growth model, based on dynamic interactions between the root and its ambient environment. As a tool for modelling, we employed the discrete element method (DEM) with the assumption that root growth could be expressed in terms of dynamic interactions between growing root elements and soil elements. Using a corresponding time scale, the results of a DEM simulation indicated a sufficiently accurate shape of root elongation, which could be verified by a root growth experiment. Moreover, a comparison of fractal dimensions from DEM results and experimental results showed almost similar values of 1.0, which is the dimension of a line.

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Fractal Analysis of Plant Root Systems

Cited by 141 publications

References 5 publications

Structure and fractal dimensions of root systems of four co-occurring fruit tree species from Botswana

Structure and fractal dimensions of root systems of four co-occurring fruit tree species from Botswana

Advances in experimental methods for root system architecture and root development

A model of root elongation by dynamic contact interaction

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