Field-based root phenotype data for bread wheat intro-selection lines - raw and pre-processed data

A total of 11 x BC2F4:F5 bread wheat intro-selection lines were generated in each of four genetic backgrounds (i.e. Borlaug100, Kingbird, Mace and Suntop). The intro-selection lines and recurrent parents were subjected to field-based root phenotyping at Gatton Research Farm, Queensland, Australia (27°32'34"S; 152°19'59"E) in 2021. Lines were evaluated in full-sized plots (1.52m wide x 6m long) and the design for this experiment followed a row-column split-plot design with destructive and non-destructive treatments to enable destructive root coring at flowering (4 reps destructive and 4 reps non-destructive). Field-based root phenotyping was performed using the core-break method. To accommodate logistics for root coring, the entire canopy of the destructive plots was mulched at flowering time. Root phenotyping involved careful removal of intact soil cores, breaking each core into 10cm intervals and visual counting of the number of roots visible on each surface of the break. To account for within-plot variability, four cores were sampled per plot from the two inner and intra rows of the ‘destructive’ plots. The raw root count data is provided along with pre-processed traits (shallowRC, deepRC, midRC, totalRC and D95) including the lower and upper intervals.