CeProBi Evaluates Root Studies to Support Agricultural Development

Reporter: Claudia Villalobos / Photos: Cortesía

The Rhizotron is a tool that allows real-time observation of root behavior in plants.

Kalina Bermúdez Torres, researcher at the Centro de Desarrollo de Productos Bióticos (CeProBi) of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), is participating in the evaluation of the Rhizotron —a device developed by experts from the Colegio de Posgraduados (COLPOS)— designed to study plant roots to assess plant health, understand their interactions with other organisms and soils, and contribute to improving crop performance.

Bermúdez Torres, who also heads CeProBi, explained that the device consists of a dark vertical chamber measuring 1.20 meters by 60 centimeters and 3 centimeters thick. It is equipped with sensors that monitor pH, temperature, and humidity, providing detailed information about the condition and behavior of roots in various environments.

Inside the chamber, a nutrient substrate and seeds are placed. The front section features a glass panel that allows for observing root growth from the earliest stages and tracking its development over time.

The Rhizotron enables the study of root exudates and visualizes interactions between roots and the microbiota. “This technology broadens our understanding and significantly reduces research times, since roots are usually hidden, which makes their analysis difficult,” explained the biologist.

She emphasized that the findings derived from Rhizotron experiments could lead to more efficient treatment and management strategies for crops.

A member of the National System of Researchers (SNII), Level I, Bermúdez Torres pointed out that understanding root function and behavior under specific conditions helps guide decisions related to plant health and the prevention of pests and diseases.

She added that the goal is to automate the technology to enhance its benefits and make it more accessible to farmers, enabling them to understand the structure of their crops, which are usually invisible to the naked eye. Having access to such information, she said, will help transform current agricultural practices and move toward a sustainable agroecological approach.

Dr. Bermúdez Torres noted that while similar technologies already exist worldwide, the innovation behind this Mexican device, developed by Drs. Vicente Espinoza Hernández and Juan Espinoza, researchers at COLPOS, aim to automatically predict plant development, improve cultivation techniques, and deliver efficient technology to support the agricultural sector.

She explained that the Rhizotron has been used at CeProBi to study the genus Lupinus, a legume of pharmaceutical and agroindustrial interest. When associated with certain nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Lupinus develops phytoremediation properties that make it valuable for bioremediation processes due to its ability to absorb specific contaminants.

The researcher mentioned that alkaloids found in Lupinus species have been evaluated for their insecticidal properties. “We discovered that alkaloid extracts from one Lupinus species act against the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the vector responsible for transmitting dengue virus,” she reported.

Dr. Bermúdez Torres concluded that the Rhizotron stands as a model of applied research that invites a closer look at plant roots and promotes the diversification of their uses in Mexican agriculture.

She also noted that another objective is to create a “Rhizotheque” of the Lupinus genus, which could serve educational purposes and facilitate studies on the interactions of this species with other plants and organisms.