Synchronizing Germination Rates Across Plant Species for Fabricated Ecosystems EcoFAB 2.0

Abstract

Roots are essential organs for plants, facilitating water and nutrient uptake from the soil to support growth. Traditional methods for studying root systems, such as rhizoboxes and rhizotrons, have provided valuable insights. However, advanced methods such as fabricated ecosystems (EcoFAB) combined with new generation microscopes now enable a more detailed investigation of the rhizosphere, the microenvironment surrounding roots, allowing a deeper understanding of root tissue, exudates, and plant–soil interactions. This microenvironment can be used to investigate the adaptation of plants to environmental stress (salinity, drought, higher temperatures). Our procedure focuses on establishing st..