scholarly journals Root elongation, water stress, and mechanical impedance: a review of limiting stresses and beneficial root tip traits

2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Glyn Bengough ◽  
B. M. McKenzie ◽  
P. D. Hallett ◽  
T. A. Valentine
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuanjun Feng ◽  
Jing Xiong ◽  
Yue Hu ◽  
Liteng Pan ◽  
Zhengqiao Liao ◽  
...  

AbstractIt has long been considered that mechanical impedance on root will restrict root elongation and consequently promote radial growth. However, we did observe radial expansion but not elongation restriction in maize seedlings after short growth in sands. Mechanical impedance of soil can be classified into frontal- and lateral-type based on the interaction site of root. Therefore, we suspected that radial expansion might be mainly stimulated by lateral rather than frontal impedance. To verify our speculation, frontal and lateral impedance was provided separately. Small plastic caps were used to provide unique frontal impedance on root tip and cylindrical plastic containers were used to provide lateral impedance. Plastic caps could reduce root length remarkably. However, the radial expansion of plastic-cap-fitted roots was significantly inferior to that of the sand-cultured roots. Microstructural analysis revealed that sand-condition thickened root largely dependents on cortical expansion, whereas plastic cap did it mainly by thickening stele. In cylindrical plastic containers, mechanical impedance came only from the lateral direction and promoted the expansion of cortex just as sand-condition. Thus, we proposed that the expansion of the cortex and the consequent radial growth is mainly due to lateral impedance when growing in sands.


Crop Science ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen A. Leach ◽  
Lindsey G. Hejlek ◽  
Leonard B. Hearne ◽  
Henry T. Nguyen ◽  
Robert E. Sharp ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 437
Author(s):  
Meng Wang ◽  
Panpan Li ◽  
Yao Ma ◽  
Xiang Nie ◽  
Markus Grebe ◽  
...  

Plant membrane sterol composition has been reported to affect growth and gravitropism via polar auxin transport and auxin signaling. However, as to whether sterols influence auxin biosynthesis has received little attention. Here, by using the sterol biosynthesis mutant cyclopropylsterol isomerase1-1 (cpi1-1) and sterol application, we reveal that cycloeucalenol, a CPI1 substrate, and sitosterol, an end-product of sterol biosynthesis, antagonistically affect auxin biosynthesis. The short root phenotype of cpi1-1 was associated with a markedly enhanced auxin response in the root tip. Both were neither suppressed by mutations in polar auxin transport (PAT) proteins nor by treatment with a PAT inhibitor and responded to an auxin signaling inhibitor. However, expression of several auxin biosynthesis genes TRYPTOPHAN AMINOTRANSFERASE OF ARABIDOPSIS1 (TAA1) was upregulated in cpi1-1. Functionally, TAA1 mutation reduced the auxin response in cpi1-1 and partially rescued its short root phenotype. In support of this genetic evidence, application of cycloeucalenol upregulated expression of the auxin responsive reporter DR5:GUS (β-glucuronidase) and of several auxin biosynthesis genes, while sitosterol repressed their expression. Hence, our combined genetic, pharmacological, and sterol application studies reveal a hitherto unexplored sterol-dependent modulation of auxin biosynthesis during Arabidopsis root elongation.


1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 696-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris P. Andersen ◽  
Edward I. Sucoff ◽  
Robert K. Dixon

The influence of root zone temperature on root initiation, root elongation, and soluble sugars in roots and shoots was investigated in a glasshouse using 2-0 red pine (Pinusresinosa Ait.) seedlings lifted from a northern Minnesota nursery. Seedlings were potted in a sandy loam soil and grown in chambers where root systems were maintained at 8, 12, 16, or 20 °C for 27 days; seedling shoots were exposed to ambient glasshouse conditions. Total new root length was positively correlated with soil temperature 14, 20, and 27 days after planting, with significantly more new root growth at 20 °C than at other temperatures. The greatest number of new roots occurred at 16 °C; the least, at 8 °C. Total soluble sugar concentrations in stem tissue decreased slightly as root temperature increased. Sugar concentrations in roots were similar at all temperatures. The results suggest that root elongation is suppressed more than root tip formation when red pine seedlings are exposed to the cool soil temperatures typically found during spring and fall outplanting.


Author(s):  
Yang Li ◽  
Heng Ye ◽  
Li Song ◽  
Tri D Vuong ◽  
Qijian Song ◽  
...  

Abstract Aluminum (Al) toxicity inhibits soybean root growth, leading to insufficient water and nutrient uptake. In this research, two soybean lines (Magellan and PI 567731) were identified differing in Al tolerance as determined by primary root length ratio (PRL_Ratio), total root length ratio (TRL_Ratio), and root tip number ratio (RTN_Ratio) under Al stress compared to unstressed controlled conditions. Serious root necrosis was observed in PI 567731, but not in Magellan under Al stress. An F8 recombinant inbred line population derived from a cross between Magellan and PI 567731 was used to map the quantitative trait loci (QTL) for Al-tolerance. Three QTL on chromosomes 3, 13, and 20, with tolerant-alleles from Magellan, were identified. qAl_Gm13 and qAl_Gm20, explained large phenotypic variations (13-27%) and played roles in maintaining root elongation. qAl_Gm03 was involved in maintaining root initiation under Al stress. These results suggested the importance of using the parameters of root elongation and root initiation in Al tolerance studies. In addition, qAl_Gm13 and qAl_Gm20 were confirmed in near-isogenic backgrounds and were identified to epistatically regulate Al tolerance in internal detoxification instead of Al 3+ exclusion. The candidate genes for qAl_Gm13 and qAl_Gm20 were suggested by analyzing a previous RNA-seq study. Phylogenetic and pedigree analysis identified the tolerant alleles of both loci derived from the US ancestor line, A.K.[FC30761], originally from China. Our results provide novel genetic resources for breeding Al-tolerant soybeans and suggest that the internal detoxification contributes to soybean tolerance to excessive soil Al.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (77) ◽  
pp. 3514-3527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pola Miralles ◽  
Errin Johnson ◽  
Tamara L. Church ◽  
Andrew T. Harris

Data on the bioavailability and toxicity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the environment, and, in particular, on their interactions with vascular plants, are limited. We investigated the effects of industrial-grade multiwalled CNTs (75 wt% CNTs) and their impurities on alfalfa and wheat. Phytotoxicity assays were performed during both seed germination and seedling growth. The germinations of both species were tolerant of up to 2560 mg l −1 CNTs, and root elongation was enhanced in alfalfa and wheat seedlings exposed to CNTs. Remarkably, catalyst impurities also enhanced root elongation in alfalfa seedlings as well as wheat germination. Thus the impurities, not solely the CNTs, impacted the plants. CNT internalization by plants was investigated using electron microscopy and two-dimensional Raman mapping. The latter showed that CNTs were adsorbed onto the root surfaces of alfalfa and wheat without significant uptake or translocation. Electron microscopy investigations of internalization were inconclusive owing to poor contrast, so Fe 3 O 4 -functionalized CNTs were prepared and studied using energy-filter mapping of Fe 3 O 4 . CNTs bearing Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were detected in the epidermis of one wheat root tip only, suggesting that internalization was possible but unusual. Thus, alfalfa and wheat tolerated high concentrations of industrial-grade multiwalled CNTs, which adsorbed onto their roots but were rarely taken up.


2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meiting Du ◽  
Yanhong Wang ◽  
Huize Chen ◽  
Rong Han

Abstract Background UV-B signaling in plants is mediated by UVR8, which interacts with transcriptional factors to induce root morphogenesis. However, research on the downstream molecules of UVR8 signaling in roots is still scarce. As a wide range of functional cytoskeletons, how actin filaments respond to UV-B-induced root morphogenesis has not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of actin filaments on root morphogenesis under UV-B and hydrogen peroxide exposure in Arabidopsis. Results A Lifeact-Venus fusion protein was used to stain actin filaments in Arabidopsis. The results showed that UV-B inhibited hypocotyl and root elongation and caused an increase in H2O2 content only in the root but not in the hypocotyl. Additionally, the actin filaments in hypocotyls diffused under UV-B exposure but were gathered in a bundle under the control conditions in either Lifeact-Venus or uvr8 plants. Exogenous H2O2 inhibited root elongation in a dose-dependent manner. The actin filaments changed their distribution from filamentous to punctate in the root tips and mature regions at a lower concentration of H2O2 but aggregated into thick bundles with an abnormal orientation at H2O2 concentrations up to 2 mM. In the root elongation zone, the actin filament arrangement changed from lateral to longitudinal after exposure to H2O2. Actin filaments in the root tip and elongation zone were depolymerized into puncta under UV-B exposure, which showed the same tendency as the low-concentration treatments. The actin filaments were hardly filamentous in the maturation zone. The dynamics of actin filaments in the uvr8 group under UV-B exposure were close to those of the control group. Conclusions The results indicate that UV-B inhibited Arabidopsis hypocotyl elongation by reorganizing actin filaments from bundles to a loose arrangement, which was not related to H2O2. UV-B disrupted the dynamics of actin filaments by changing the H2O2 level in Arabidopsis roots. All these results provide an experimental basis for investigating the interaction of UV-B signaling with the cytoskeleton.


1990 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
BJ Atwell ◽  
JC Newsome

Seedlings of lupin (Lupinus angustifolius cv. 75A-258) were grown in cores of sandy loam which was compacted to bulk densities of 1.6 and 1.8 Mg m-3 . There was a substantial decrease in root elongation rate at the higher bulk density. After 4-7 d, roots were rinsed free of soil and clamped loosely in a Perspex block for measurement of turgor pressure (P) using a pressure probe. Measurements were made at 3-4 positions on each root, each estimation taking 2 min. Turgor pressures in the terminal 15 mm of the axes ranged between 0.213 and 0.530 at 1.6 Mg m-3 and 0.210 and 0.570 MPa at 1.8 Mg m-3; mean P values were 0.365 and 0.351 MPa in roots growing at 1.6 and 1.8 Mg m-3, respectively. These measurements were made on roots removed from the soil; P could have been greater in roots still growing in compact soil. Anatomical studies showed that the distal boundary of the zone of cell expansion was 2-4 mm nearer the apex in roots growing at 1.8 than at 1.6 Mg m-3. Using this information, we showed that the mean P of expanding tissue was the same in roots of the two treatments. The apparent rise in P near the apex of roots at 1.8 Mg m-3 was not statistically significant. Primary roots growing against high mechanical impedance had a 34% lower rate of elongation and a 22% greater diameter, resulting in nearly identical rates of volume expansion (35.1 and 34.9 mm3 d-1 at 1.6 and 1.8 Mg m-3 respectively). Furthermore, the rate of O2 uptake was the same in 10 mm root apices from both treatments so that there was no evidence that the carbohydrate requirement for respiration was enhanced by high soil strength. Moreover, while mechanical impedance decreased root elongation, it did not significantly affect our estimate of P. We believe that P in lupin roots changes in response to mechanical impedance only when volume expansion or utilization of solutes are affected.


Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Liu ◽  
Xiaoli Wei

Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) are known to help host plants survive drought stress; however, how DSEs enhance host plant drought resistance under water stress conditions remains unclear. The objective of this study was to inoculate Ormosia hosiei seedlings with a DSE strain (Acrocalymma vagum) to investigate the effects of DSE inoculation on root morphology, ultrastructure, and the endogenous hormone content under drought stress conditions and to elucidate the drought resistance mechanism involved in the DSE–host-plant association. The inoculated seedlings were grown under three different soil water conditions (well watered—75% field water capacity, moderate water—55% field water capacity, or low water—35% field water capacity) for 114 days. Fresh root weight, root volume, root surface area, root fork, and root tip number were significantly higher in inoculated seedlings than in noninoculated seedlings. Furthermore, the root architecture of the inoculated seedlings changed from herringbone branching to dichotomous branching. Mitochondria and other organelles in root cells of inoculated seedlings remained largely undamaged under water stress, whereas organelles in root cells of noninoculated seedlings were severely damaged. The abscisic acid (ABA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content and IAA/ABA ratio of inoculated seedlings were significantly higher than those of noninoculated seedlings, whereas the content of gibberellic acid (GA) and the ratios of GA/ABA, zeatin riboside (ZR)/ABA, and ZR/IAA in inoculated seedlings were lower than those of noninoculated seedlings. DSE inoculation could help plants adapt to a drought stress environment by altering root morphology, reducing ultrastructural damage, and influencing the balance of endogenous hormones, which could be of great significance for the cultivation and preservation of the O. hosiei tree.


2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (12) ◽  
pp. 3524-3534
Author(s):  
Loïc Pagès ◽  
Marie Bernert ◽  
Guillaume Pagès

Abstract In a given root system, individual roots usually exhibit a rather homogeneous tip structure although highly different diameters and growth patterns, and this diversity is of prime importance in the definition of the whole root system architecture and foraging characteristics. In order to represent and predict this diversity, we built a simple and generic model at root tip level combining structural and functional knowledge on root elongation. The tip diameter, reflecting meristem size, is used as a driving variable of elongation. It varies, in response to the fluctuations of photo-assimilate availability, between two limits (minimal and maximal diameter). The elongation rate is assumed to be dependent on the transient value of the diameter. Elongation stops when the tip reaches the minimal diameter. The model could satisfactorily reproduce patterns of root elongation and tip diameter changes observed in various species at different scales. Although continuous, the model could generate divergent root classes as classically observed within populations of lateral roots. This model should help interpret the large plasticity of root elongation patterns which can be obtained in response to different combinations of endogenous and exogenous factors. The parameters could be used in phenotyping the root system.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document