Acknowledgments The James Hutton Institute receives funding from the Scottish Government. The authors would also like to thank Jim McNicol from Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland for his advice on statistical analysis.Peer reviewedPostprin

A Stokes

A. G. Bengough

AG Bengough

AJ Garthwaite

C Mattia

DA Rose

DH Gray

DL Easson

FB Ellis

FM Thomas

GB Bischetti

IJ Bingham

J Zeier

K. W. Loades

KS Pregitzer

KW Loades

L Beek

L Kotula

L Waldron

LJ Gibson

M Genet

M Watt

M. F. Bransby

MJ Jaffe

MM Campbell

MR Dumlao

MRE Symonds

N Pollen

NA White

P. D. Hallett

PD Hallett

PJ Gregory

PM Berry

R Hathaway

RA Gill

S Mickovski

S Pellerin

TC Hales

TO Galamay

WM Blacklow

Z Mao

Acknowledgments The James Hutton Institute receives funding from the Scottish Government. The authors would also like to thank Jim McNicol from Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland for his advice on statistical analysis.Peer reviewe

Loades, K. W.

Bengough, A. G.

Bransby, M. F.

Hallett, P. D.

Aberdeen University Research

Plant and Soil

Effect of root age on the biomechanics of seminal and nodal roots of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in contrasting soil environments

Background and aims: The biomechanics of root systems influence plant lodging resistance and soil structural stabilisation. Tissue age has the potential to influence root biomechanical properties through changes in cell wall chemistry, root anatomy and morphology. Within a root system the internal structures of roots are known to vary markedly within different root types. Nodal, seminal and lateral roots of Barley (Hordeum vulgare) have differing biomechanical behaviour in tension. This study examines the effects of root age on biomechanical properties of barley root types (Hordeum vulgare) under abiotic stress.Methods: Root age was determined as a function of the distance from root tip with abiotic stresses consisting of waterlogging and restriction to root elongation rate through increased soil bulk density. Linear regression analyses were performed on log-transformed tensile strength and Young’s modulus data with best fits determined for single and multiple parameter models to root morphological properties.Results: Regression co-efficients and Akaike values showed that distance from root tip (taken as a proxy of root age) was the best single variable for prediction of both root tensile strength and Young’s modulus. Incorporation of both distance from root tip and root diameter and root type increased the reliability of predictions for root biomechanical properties from 47 to 57 % for tensile strength and 35 to 62 % for Young’s modulus.Conclusions: The age effect may partly explain some scatter in both Young’s modulus and tensile strength to diameter relationship, commonly cited in the literature.<br/

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