Accelerating root system phenotyping of seedlings through a computer-assisted processing pipeline

Background: There are numerous systems and techniques to measure the growth of plant roots. However, phenotyping large numbers of plant roots for breeding and genetic analyses remains challenging. One major difficulty is to achieve high throughput and resolution at a reasonable cost per plant sample. Here we describe a cost-effective root phenotyping pipeline, on which we perform time and accuracy benchmarking to identify bottlenecks in such pipelines and strategies for their acceleration. Results: Our root phenotyping pipeline was assembled with custom software and low cost material and equipment. Results show that sample preparation and handling of samples during screening are the most time consuming task in root phenotyping. Algorithms can be used to speed up the extraction of root traits from image data, but when applied to large numbers of images, there is a trade-off between time of processing the data and errors contained in the database. Conclusions: Scaling-up root phenotyping to large numbers of genotypes will require not only automation of sample preparation and sample handling, but also efficient algorithms for error detection for more reliable replacement of manual interventions

Longitudinal evaluation the pulmonary function of the pre and postoperative periods in the coronary artery bypass graft surgery of patients treated with a physiotherapy protocol

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) seeks to reduce or prevent its complications and decrease morbidity and mortality. For certain subgroups of patients, coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) may accomplish these goals. The objective of this study was to assess the pulmonary function in the CABG postoperative period of patients treated with a physiotherapy protocol.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty-two volunteers with an average age of 63 ± 2 years were included and separated into three groups: healthy volunteers (n = 09), patients with CAD (n = 9) and patients who underwent CABG (n = 20). Patients from the CABG group received preoperative and postoperative evaluations on days 3, 6, 15 and 30. Patients from the CAD group had evaluations on days 1 and 30 of the study, and the healthy volunteers were evaluated on day 1. Pulmonary function was evaluated by measuring forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and Maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After CABG, there was a significant decrease in pulmonary function (p < 0.05), which was the worst on postoperative day 3 and returned to the preoperative baseline on postoperative day 30.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Pulmonary function decreased after CABG. Pulmonary function was the worst on postoperative day 3 and began to improve on postoperative day 15. Pulmonary function returned to the preoperative baseline on postoperative day 30.</p

Effects of sublethal doses of acetamiprid and thiamethoxam on the behavior of the honeybee (Apis mellifera).

Acetamiprid and thiamethoxam are insecticides introduced for pest control, but they can also affect non-target insects such as honeybees. In insects, these neonicotinoid insecticides are known to act on acetylcholine nicotinic receptors but the behavioral effects of low doses are not yet fully understood. The effects of acetamiprid and thiamethoxam were studied after acute sublethal treatment on the behavior of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) under controlled laboratory conditions. The drugs were either administered orally or applied topically on the thorax. After oral consumption acetamiprid increased sensitivity to antennal stimulation by sucrose solutions at doses of 1 microg/bee and impaired long-term retention of olfactory learning at the dose of 0.1 microg/bee. Acetamiprid thoracic application induced no effect in these behavioral assays but increased locomotor activity (0.1 and 0.5 microg/bee) and water-induced proboscis extension reflex (0.1, 0.5, and 1 microg/bee). Unlike acetamiprid, thiamethoxam had no effect on bees' behavior under the conditions used. Our results suggest a particular vulnerability of honeybee behavior to sublethal doses of acetamiprid

Genetic variation for root architecture, nutrient uptake and mycorrhizal colonisation in Medicago truncatula accessions

Sustainable agriculture strives for healthy, high yielding plants with minimal agronomic inputs. Genetic solutions to increase nutrient uptake are desirable because they provide ongoing improvements. To achieve this it is necessary to identify genes involved in uptake and translocation of nutrients. We selected Medicago truncatula L. as a model because of its: i) close genetic relationship to food legumes, ii) use as a pasture legume in southern Australia and iii) availability of mapping populations generated from genetically diverse accessions. We discovered statistically significant differences between eight accessions for: root architecture in growth pouches, % root colonisation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus intraradices, and plant tissue concentration of most macro- and micronutrients. Mycorrhizal colonisation had a significant effect on P concentration in roots but not shoots, Mg concentration in both roots and shoots, and the concentration of various micronutrients in shoots including Fe, Ca, but not Zn. Comparison of micronutrient uptake between root and shoot tissues showed that some M. truncatula accessions were more efficient at mobilisation of nutrients from roots to shoots. We are now in a position to use existing mapping populations of M. truncatula to identify quantitative trait loci important for human health and sustainable agriculture.Carolyn J. Schultz, Leon V. Kochian and Maria J. Harriso