Field data verified the relationship between root electrical capacitance linked to water uptake activity and LAI (related to the potential canopy transpiration) and grain yield. Differences in root growth dynamics and responsiveness to climate change between wheat cultivars were also evaluated. Root electrical capacitance measurement, as an in situ phenotyping tool, potentially contributes to selecting crop varieties with an improved adaptability to changing climate and a higher yield stability. Application of the method could be particularly beneficial in experimental systems, where soil disturbance and plant damage should be avoided.
