Fine root and root hair morphology of cotton under drought stress revealed with RhizoPot

Fine roots (roots with a diameter of less than 2 mm) and root hairs are the primary absorbers of water and nutrients; however, the morphology of cotton fine roots and root hairs in response to drought stress has not yet been defined. To solve this problem, this study characterized a self‐made in situ root observation device (RhizoPot) with a scanner with a resolution of up to 4,800 DPI was used to observe the roots of cotton plants grown indoors under both well‐watered and drought stress conditions. RhizoPot provided healthy growth conditions for cotton, and fine roots as well as root hairs were successfully observed. Root length density increased significantly under drought stress, whereas the average root diameter decreased gradually with the extension of treatment time. Drought stress accelerated fine root death, and the diameter of the fine roots was positively correlated with root lifespan. Additionally, the root hair lifespan was negatively regulated by soil drought stress and was associated with the growth stage. This result suggests that cotton developed more slender fine roots and longer root hairs under drought stress, which accelerated the death process of both, in order to develop new fine roots. This process helps cotton absorb as much water as possible under drought stress.