Part I  Lab Methods

1 Higher plants: Structural diversity of roots

L.G. Tarshis, G.I. Tarshis

2 Electrical impedance spectroscopy and roots

Tapani Repo, Yang Cao, Raimo Silvennoinen and Harry Ozier-Lafontaine

3 Multi Electrode Arrays (MEAs) and the Electrical Network of the Roots

Elisa Masi, Elisa Azzarello, Camilla Pandolfi, Susanna Pollastri, Sergio Mugnai, Stefano Mancuso

4 The vibrating probe technique in the study of root physiology under stress

Camilla Pandolfi, Sergio Mugnai, Elisa Azzarello, Elisa Masi, Susanna Pollastri, Stefano Mancuso

5 The use of planar optodes in root studies for quantitative imaging

Stephan Blossfeld and Dirk Gansert

6 Applications of Confocal Microscopy in the Study of Root Apparatus

Susanna Pollastri, Elisa Azzarello, Elisa Masi, Camilla Pandolfi, Sergio Mugnai, Stefano Mancuso

7 High-Throughput Quantification of Root Growth

Andrew French, Darren Wells and Tony Pridmore

8 Flat optical scanner method and root dynamics

Masako DANNOURA, Yuji KOMINAMI, Naoki MAKITA and Hiroyuki OGUMA

9 3D Reconstruction and Dynamic Modeling of Root Architecture in situ

Suqin Fang, Randy Clark, Hong Liao

Part II  Field Methods

10 Geophysical imaging techniques

Said Attia al Hagrey

11 Multi electrode resistivity imaging

Mariana Amato, Vincenzo Lapenna, Roberta Rossi, Giovanni Bitella

12 Using ground-penetrating radar to detect tree roots and estimate biomass

John R. Butnor, Craig Barton, Frank P. Day, Kurt H Johnsen, Anthony N. Mucciardi, Rachel Schroeder, Daniel B. Stover

13 Root structure: in situ studies through sap flow research

Nadezhda Nadezhdina, Teresa S. David, Jorge S. David, Valeriy Nadezhdin, Jan Cermak, Roman Gebauer, Alexia Stokes

14 Root function: in situ studies through sap flow research

Nadezhda Nadezhdina, Teresa S. David, Jorge S. David, Valeriy Nadezhdin, Jan Cermak, Roman Gebauer, Maria Isabel Ferreira, Nuno Conceicao, Michal Dohnal, Miroslav Tesar, Karl Gartner, Reinhart Ceulemans

15 Fine root dynamics and root respiration

Karibu Fukuzawa, Masako Dannoura, Hideaki Shibata

16 Biases And Errors Associated With Different Root Production Methods And Their Effects On Field Estimates Of Belowground Net Primary Production

Daniel G. Milchunas

17 Minirhizotrons in modern root studies

Teofilo Vamerali, Marianna Bandiera, Giuliano Mosca

18. Fine root turnover.

Martin Lukac

Roots represent half of the plant body - and arguably the more interesting half. Despite its obvious importance for the whole plant, until recently our knowledge of the root apparatus was very limited, mostly due to the inadequacy of the techniques available. Recent advances in the visualization and measurement of roots have resulted in significant progress in our understanding of root architecture, growth and behaviour. In this book international experts highlight the most advanced techniques, both lab and field methods, and discuss them in detail. Measuring Roots combines academic and practical aspects of this topic, making it a universal handbook for all researchers and others interested in root-measuring methods.