INFLUENCE OF HYDROPONIC CULTURE METHOD ON MORPHOLOGY AND HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY OF ROOTS OF HONEY LOCUST

The morphology and hydraulic conductivity of Toot systems of Gleditsia triacanthos L. var. inermis Willd. (honey locust) grown hydroponically in sand and solution cultures were compared. Total root system length was similar in the two cultures. However, root systems grown in solution had longer primary roots, fewer lateral roots and root hairs, and a greater distance between the tip of the primary root and the junction of the youngest secondary root and the primary root than root systems grown in sand. Hydraulic conductivities of root systems grown hydroponically for 21 or 35 days in sand or solution culture were similar. These findings show that different methods of hydroponic culture can affect root morphology without altering root resistance to water transport.