The researchers wanted to see how pruning pecan tree roots and using different containers affected their growth. They studied pecan rootstocks in plastic bags and tubes, as well as in soil, over 280 and 480 days. They found that using plastic bags caused roots to coil at the bottom, and pruning increased the number of main roots but decreased root length. Stem diameter, important for grafting, was not affected by containers or pruning. Pecan rootstocks with unpruned roots in plastic bags grew large main roots and aerial parts.