Lobet, GuillaumeD'Agostino, MarcoMarcoD'Agostino2025-05-142025-05-142025-05-142022https://hdl.handle.net/2078.2/28146Understand the role of plant traits in water uptake is crucial in a climate change context, where droughts that impact crop production are expected to be more frequent and more severe. At the microscopical scale, root anatomy plays a major role in water dynamics. Thus, coupling anatomical traits with architectural traits in phenotyping processes might improve our understanding of water-saving strategies in plants. However, anatomy is difficult to study with high throughput due to its microscopical scale. New tools and protocols have to be developed to enhance the quality of anatomical modelling, and to integrate anatomy into plant-scale simulations. More specifically, computational tools might help investigate the influence of anatomy on water flow with higher throughput than experimental techniques. In this master’s thesis, we updated GRANAR, a generator of root anatomy, by adding a secondary growth module. For that, we used tomato as model plant. We grew tomato in hydroponics, monitored architectural parameters, and explored tomato root anatomy. Staining techniques were tested and applied, and a protocol for quantifying the root anatomy was built. Tomato root anatomy was characterised, and maturity stages along the tap root were investigated. With the collected data, we implemented and validated the new R function Pack Xylem, that is integrated in the code of GRANAR and allow the generation of anatomical secondary growth patterns. The virtual cross sections generated with this new module are compatible with a solver of root hydraulic anatomy (MECHA). The new tools and updated protocols of this work open the gates for new applications, e.g. include local anatomical and hydraulic parameters in simulations of water dynamics at the plant scale.TomatoModellingPhenotypingWater uptakeRoot anatomyProtocolGRANARMECHAVIPERMicroscopetext::thesis::master thesisthesis:37917