Firmly grounded: Root system stiffness and plant mechanics

Field-based technologies are essential for understanding plant mechanical behavior in field-relevant contexts. This behavior can be elastic, with temporary deformation measured as stiffness, or plastic, with permanent deformation measured as strength. While field-based technologies exist for addressing questions regarding stalk stiffness, stalk strength, and root system strength, root system stiffness has not been fully understood – until now. A new study by Hostetler et al. introduces SMURF (Sorghum and Maize Under Rotational Force), a non-destructive field-based mechanical phenotyping device designed to measure root system resistance to bending and rotational force. This tool will enable researchers to assess root system stiffness in large grain crops. Putting the technology to test, the SMURF was used to measure root system stiffness in maize inbred and hybrid genotypes across developmental stages and varying planting densities. A key takeaway? A plant with a higher root system stiffness is more prone to mechanical failure under equal stalk displacement than a plant with lower root system stiffness. The SMURF opens new doors for understanding the complex relationship between root-soil interaction and plant mechanics. (Summary by Irene I. Ikiriko @ireneikiriko) Journal of Experimental Botany 10.1093/jxb/erae465