Entries by Aditi Bhat

Do roots rely on damage signaling for effector-triggered immunity?

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Plant immunity has two well-studied layers: pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), activated when plasma membrane-localized receptors recognize microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), and effector-triggered immunity (ETI), mediated by intracellular nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors that detect pathogen effectors. Both layers have been studied extensively in leaves, but roots, which are constantly exposed to complex soil microbiota, remain far […]

Cellulose synthase complexes and remorins anchor the membrane to the cell wall under water stress

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Plant cells are under constant turgor pressure that pushes the plasma membrane tightly against the cell wall. Under severe water loss, cells shrink and membrane retracts without fully detaching from the wall. Narrow bands known as Hechtian strands remain tethered to the cell wall at membrane/wall contact sites. However, the identity and physiological role of […]

Peptide-driven changes in rice roots shift microbial metabolism and reduce methane emissions

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Waterlogged paddy soils create anaerobic environments that support the growth of methanogenic archaea, contributing 7-17% of global methane (CH4) emissions. Prior work has shown that rice varieties with more extensive root aerenchyma can better oxygenate the surrounding soil, thereby reducing CH4 emissions. Additionally, peptides such as PLANT PEPTIDES CONTAINING SULFATED TYROSINE (PSY) have been shown […]

Open Sesame! Pectin tweaks plasmodesmata to control root transport

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In plants, plasmodesmata provide essential symplastic connections for the movement of nutrients and signals. While their role in developing roots is well established, whether they contribute significantly to radial nutrient transport once roots are fully differentiated is still poorly understood. To address this, Jacquier et al. used tracer dyes and cell-type-specific fluorescent reporters to study […]