Rellán-Álvarez, RubénLobet, GuillaumeLindner, HeikePradier, Pierre-LucSebastian, JoseYee, Muh-ChingGeng, YuTrontin, CharlotteLaRue, ThereseSchrager-Lavelle, AmandaHaney, Cara HNieu, RitaMaloof, JulinVogel, John PDinneny, José R2015-11-032015Rellán-Álvarez, R., G. Lobet, H. Lindner, P. Pradier, J. Sebastian, M. Yee, Y. Geng, et al. 2015. “GLO-Roots: an imaging platform enabling multidimensional characterization of soil-grown root systems.” eLife 4 (1): e07597. doi:10.7554/eLife.07597. http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.07597.2050-084Xhttp://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:23473893Root systems develop different root types that individually sense cues from their local environment and integrate this information with systemic signals. This complex multi-dimensional amalgam of inputs enables continuous adjustment of root growth rates, direction, and metabolic activity that define a dynamic physical network. Current methods for analyzing root biology balance physiological relevance with imaging capability. To bridge this divide, we developed an integrated-imaging system called Growth and Luminescence Observatory for Roots (GLO-Roots) that uses luminescence-based reporters to enable studies of root architecture and gene expression patterns in soil-grown, light-shielded roots. We have developed image analysis algorithms that allow the spatial integration of soil properties, gene expression, and root system architecture traits. We propose GLO-Roots as a system that has great utility in presenting environmental stimuli to roots in ways that evoke natural adaptive responses and in providing tools for studying the multi-dimensional nature of such processes. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.07597.001en-USimaging systemsotherJournal Article2015-11-0310.7554/eLife.07597