Visualization of the root system architecture of plants is possible using a combination of magnetic resonance imaging of water mobility and tractography. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a magnetic resonance application, was used to provide a three-dimensional map of water mobility inside a pot containing soil and roots. Tractography generates channels that constitute pathways of facilitated water movement, representing the roots, calculated from water diffusion properties obtained from DTI experiments. Examples of pea (Pisum sativum L.) and corn [Zea mays L. var. indentata (Sturtev.) L.H. Bailey] root growth are provided.

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