Description

Root growth and morphology are important for maximizing water uptake and mineral absorption. Similar to the plants grown in the soil, in a soilless culture such as an aeroponic system, the amount of water and nutrient available to a plant is determined by the root surface area and volume of nutrient solution with which its roots are in contact. Furthermore, plant roots can alter their nutrient acquisition capacity by adjusting their morphological and/or physiological characteristics to meet changes in shoot nutrient demand in response to environmental stress. Subtropical and temperate vegetables have successfully been grown aeroponically in the tropics by simply cooling the root zone (RZ) while their aerial portions are subjected to fluctuating atmospheric temperatures. This paper focused on RZ temperature (RZT) on root and shoot growth, and root morphology of subtropical and temperate vegetable crops grown in the tropics. The impacts of RZT on water relations as well as nitrate (NO3−) uptake and assimilation of these vegetable crops were also discussed.

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