Regulation of gravitropic set point angle

One parameter that defines a plant’s architecture is the angle at which its branches and lateral roots lie with respect to gravity, known as the gravitropic set point angle (GSA). Like all aspects of plant architecture, GSA is a highly plastic trait that is sensitive to light and nutrient availability. Roychoudhry et al. show that these effects on GSA are mediated by auxin levels or sensitivity. Key findings include opposite effects of low N and low P on lateral root GSA, and differences in the way that adventitious roots and lateral roots respond to nutrient deficiencies. Sci. Rep.  10.1038/srep42664