Hidden root structures could help scientists grow more resilient crops
Growing Smarter Crops Through Roots, Data and Discovery: Alexander Bucksch and his student researchers are using imaging, computing and plant science to uncover how roots help crops withstand drought and poor soil, advancing research that could lead to mo
Student researchers working in Alexander Bucksch’s research lab.
Anna Arakelova
Alexander Bucksch and his student researchers at the University of Arizona are using imaging technology and plant science to better understand how crops survive drought and poor soil conditions.
Microscopy image showing hooked hairs on common bean roots. The brown coloration indicates the presence of reactive oxygen species, providing indirect evidence of nitrogen uptake during early seedling development.
Alexander Bucksch, University of Arizona, Plant Sciences
Bucksch, an associate professor in the School of Plant Sciences, recently co-authored a study published in Science Advances that identified a previously unknown root cell in common beans called “hooked hairs.” These tiny underground structures appear within days of germination and help seedlings absorb nutrients and regulate water before larger root architectures develop.
The research has shown that root shape can reveal how plants manage environmental stress, absorb nutrients and interact with nearby plants – a finding that could contribute to the development of more resilient agricultural systems as farmers face increasing challenges from drought, heat and other effects of a changing climate.
Much of Bucksch’s work focuses on plant phenotypes, the physical traits and characteristics plants develop as they grow. His lab studies how root structures influence drought resistance, nutrient absorption and plant survival.
To better understand those relationships, Bucksch and his team combine traditional plant science with imaging technologies and computational tools that allow them to study root systems at scales ranging from individual cells to entire plant populations.
Student workers in the lab collect and analyze root data using low-cost imaging methods that can enable discovery and scientific progress with the budgets available in developing countries. Instead of relying on expensive equipment, researchers dig up plants, wash the roots and photograph them to quickly gather large amounts of information about root systems.
Student researcher working in Alexander Bucksch’s research lab.
Anna Arakelova
Student researcher Luis Angulo, a third-year statistics and computer science major, said his work with Bucksch at the Computational Plant Sciences Lab combines computer science, statistics and plant biology in unexpected ways.
Using Python programming, Angulo creates three-dimensional simulations that model how roots respond to different environmental conditions. These virtual environments allow researchers to test how factors such as rainfall probability, nutrient levels and growth patterns influence root development without waiting for plants to grow in the field or greenhouse.
“I am running over a million simulations, each representing different values for those parameters,” Angulo said. “When that entire simulation is complete, I will be able to render a 3D image and see what the root looks like.”
Student researcher, Ruta Rezene (left) working in Bucksch’s lab.
Anna Arakelova
The team also developed specialized software called DIRT/μ, or Digital Imaging of Root Traits at Microscale, which helps researchers analyze microscopic root structures and identify patterns that would otherwise be difficult to detect.
Angulo is using machine learning and large language models to compare simulation results with images of real roots to better understand plants’ physical and genetic traits without having to grow them over long time periods.Bucksch’s mentorship has also shaped the experiences of graduate students working at the intersection of computing and agriculture.
Ruta Rezene, a graduate student in Bucksch’s lab, said his guidance influenced both her academic and career trajectory.
“Through his mentorship, I received real insight into what graduate research looks like and the many pathways I could take,” Rezene said. “It’s a big part of why I'm now planning on pursuing a master's degree and perhaps a PhD after that.”
Under Bucksch’s guidance, Rezene studies cybersecurity for connected agricultural systems, focusing on how to detect attacks on data as it moves from field devices to cloud-based platforms. Her research reflects the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of agricultural science, where advances in computing, engineering and plant science are often closely connected.
“Students like Luis and Ruta will make a difference in this world when they break down the boundaries between scientific disciplines and unite the strength of biology with mathematical sciences,” Bucksch said.