Tag: Root development

Plants continuously monitor their environment through sophisticated defense systems that recognize microbe-associated molecular patterns and activate immune responses. Among the diverse signaling molecules involved, peptides have emerged as an important molecular language that coordinates communication…

Roots play a critical role in determining  seedling resilience mechanisms to abiotic stress conditions. Despite advancements in the characterization of root systems at phenotypic and cellular levels, the diversity of belowground epidermal microstructures remains poorly understood, particularly prior…

Clearly, the mechanical properties of plant cell walls have important implications for growth and development, but they are not necessarily easy to measure, especially in intact, living tissues. Here, Alonso-Baez et al. used Brillouin microscopy and molecular rotors to characterize cell wall properties…

While phosphorus (P) ranks the second most essential mineral nutrient for plant growth, its availability in natural soils is often very low. To cope with this limitation, plant roots have evolved sophisticated molecular mechanisms and phenotypic plasticity to maximize root surface area and enhance P…

While root gravitropism (growth towards gravity) has an extended history of in-depth research, less is known about root hydrotropism (growth towards water) and about how these two potentially conflicting processes interact with each other. Since soil water distribution is often heterogeneous, plant roots…

Root growth and branching is strongly tuned to environmental conditions including soil compaction, nutrient availability, and the presence of water, with auxin having a major role in regulating root architecture. Here, Roy et al. have demonstrated how auxin contributes to a suppression of root branching…

Root cells are organized into concentric layers that facilitate the movement of water and nutrients. Among these, the endodermis overlays the root vasculature, allowing it to play a major role in selective uptake. To perform this function, endodermal cells undergo two distinct stages of differentiation.…

Legume plants are renowned for their ability to form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) in specialized root tissues called nodules. This symbiosis enables the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, a form of nitrogen that plants can readily use for growth. This…