© 1992 Heron Publishing—Victoria, Canada
Influence of hydroponic culture method on morphology and hydraulic conductivity of roots of honey locust
William R. Graves (1, 2)
1. Department of Horticulture and the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Maryland at College Park, College
Park, MD 20742-5611, USA / 2. Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1100, USA / Received April 25, 1991
Summary
The morphology and hydraulic conductivity of root systems of Gleditsia triacanthos L. var. inermis Willd. (honey locust) grown hydroponically in sand and solution cultures were compared. Total root system length was similar
in the two cultures. However, root systems grown in solution had longer primary roots, fewer lateral roots and root hairs,
and a greater distance between the tip of the primary root and the junction of the youngest secondary root and the primary
root than root systems grown in sand. Hydraulic conductivities of root systems grown hydroponically for 21 or 35 days in sand
or solution culture were similar. These findings show that different methods of hydroponic culture can affect root morphology
without altering root resistance to water transport.
