Data of Pinus pinaster root architecture after outplanting: 3D-digitised root systems of 284 saplings aged three to five years from seed

Planting is a widespread propagation technique, even for long-life woody plants. Yet, cultivation in containers and outplanting can cause root deformations and subsequently alter anchorage. We set up an original method to characterise the root deformations and their relationships with anchorage in 3D-digitised root systems of 1-m tall saplings. We applied this method to 236 three- to five-year-old outplanted Pinus pinaster saplings first reared in containers with vertical slits and ribs from 15 commercial planted stands, and to 48 saplings from a control seeded-in-place stand. The data set contains the root characteristics of the 284 saplings.