ABSTRACT
Root research has been hampered for a long time by methodological difficulties. Most roots are hidden in the soil, are out of sight, and therefore must be excavated before any observation, specific treatment, or analysis can be done. However, it is practically impossible to excavate the whole system of plant roots without destroying the delicate root hairs, damaging and losing the fine roots, and destroying some of the larger ones. Thus, research that is based on such a methodology (see Chapter 18 by Polomski and Kuhn and Chapter 11 by Persson in this volume) yields some general information regarding the location of various roots, but is under a handicap and has limited meaning when the developmental or functional aspects of roots are studied.
