Research reveals plant roots change shape and branch out for water
Researchers have discovered how plant roots adapt their shape to maximize their absorption of water. They pause branching when they lose contact with water and only start again once they connect with water again,
Scientists from the University of Nottingham have discovered a novel water sensing mechanism that they call Hydro-Signaling
It's an innovative new research tool that reveals how hormones move, and how this movement is linked with water fluxes in plants
Life depends on water for its rate-limiting qualities. The effects of water stress on global agriculture are being improved by the impact of climate change
Roots help plants to adapt to water stress. If you want to keep your house plants healthy and happy, then this is a must-read book for you.
Water stress is helping future-proof crops to enhance their climate resilience. Understanding how plant roots adapt to water stress is to help crops
Scientists have revealed that plants use hormones to control their growth in response to water availability
They used x-ray imaging technology to reveal how roots alter their shape in response to moisture availability by linking the movement of water with plant hormone signals
Scientists have identified a set of genes and processes that control how a plant's roots branch in response to limited water availability
With this knowledge, researchers can design new approaches to manipulate how roots branch, and thus how much water a plant takes up, to boost water efficiency in crops.
When roots are in contact with water, a key hormone signal (auxin) moves inwards, triggering new root branches
When roots lose contact with water, they rely on internal water sources that mobilize another hormone signal, which acts to block the inwards movement of the branching signal
Understanding how we can future-proof crops and finding ways to ensure successful crop yields even in the most challenging climates is vital to our research
This research is an important step in understanding how to design plants that can still access water in a hotter climate
The international team of scientists based in the U.K., Belgium, Sweden, and the U.S. was involved in the new discoveries