Aeroponic cultivation - characteristics of plant roots

Aeroponics cultivation is a new cultivation mode that maximizes the growth potential of the root system.

The number, length and surface area of ​​the roots of aerosol-cultivated plants are several times or even hundreds of times that of soil cultivation.

The main reasons are:

1. The root development environment is optimized. Plant roots grow and travel in the soil. Under the action of resistance, the root tissue will be mechanized and fibrotic and aged, forming a corky soil root system. When developing in the aerosol space, the adaptability of the root system changes from the original terrestrial form to the aerial form. The root system can grow and differentiate rapidly in an environment without restrictions and without any resistance, forming a huge root system.

2. Changes in root structure are conducive to plant growth. Aerosol roots are adventitious roots, which can directly and efficiently absorb water and nutrients, and the root surface area and number are significantly increased. Moreover, the composite root system formed by aerial and aquatic plants is mostly based on basal roots, which can directly send the absorbed water and nutrients to the branches and leaves on the ground through the roots, without the need for multi-level transmission like most terrestrial plants, and consume too much bioenergy. It is a highly efficient and energy-saving root system type.

3. The root elongation zone is particularly developed. No matter what plant is cultivated with aeroponics, the growth of the root system shows extraordinary activity and rapid development and extension, so its elongation zone is several times that of ordinary roots, which significantly promotes the development and rapid extension of the root system.

4. Reduced root secretions. The secretion of substances is a product of external stimulation. When the root system encounters friction or is stressed by factors such as temperature, water, nutrition, oxygen, or stimulated by microorganisms and pathogens, it will secrete a large amount of sugar, acid, and intermediate metabolites. If the oxygen-deficient environment will also cause the accumulation of toxic alcohol in the root system and the secretion of a large amount of acetic acid and acetaldehyde, it is the root cause of root rot. However, in the aerosol environment, the role and function of secretions are greatly reduced. The adaptive development of plants shows that secretions are significantly reduced, and the ecological function is significantly weakened. More bioenergy is used for the growth of roots and branches and leaves above the ground, thereby promoting the rapid development of plants and energy-saving and efficient growth, that is, the biological conversion rate is greatly improved.

5. Enhanced root respiration. In the aerosol environment, especially in the extremely fine space of atomization, its fluffy aerial roots are particularly developed. The surface of this root system is very large, and the respiration intensity is several times or even dozens of times that of ordinary roots. Therefore, its absorption power is also significantly stronger than that of ordinary roots. Aerial roots with enhanced respiration provide more sufficient bioenergy for root absorption, promote the rapid metabolism and absorption of water and nutrients, and thus promote the development and growth of the whole plant.

In short, the above characteristics of aerial roots are the manifestation of ecological adaptability in the aerosol environment, and the physiological ecology and morphological response of development under special environments. Aerial roots are a root system formed in the most suitable root zone environment. It represents high efficiency and strong regeneration of development, and becomes the main reason for promoting rapid development above ground.