Plant roots navigate in the soil environment following the gravity vector. Cell divisions in the meristem and rapid cell growth in the elongation zone propel the root tips through the soil. Actively elongating cells acidify their apoplast to enable cell wall extension by the activity of plasma membrane AHA H+-ATPases. The phytohormone auxin, central regulator of gravitropic response and root development, inhibits root cell growth, likely by rising the pH of the apoplast. However, the role of auxin in the regulation of the apoplastic pH gradient along the root tip is unclear. Here, we show, by using an improved method for visualization and quantification of root surface pH, that the Arabidopsis thaliana root surface pH shows distinct acidic and alkaline zones, which are not primarily determined by the activity of AHA H+-ATPases. Instead, the distinct domain of alkaline pH in the root transition zone is controlled by a rapid auxin response module, consisting of the AUX1 auxin influx carrier, the AFB1 auxin co-receptor, and the CNCG14 calcium channel. We demonstrate that the rapid auxin response pathway is required for an efficient navigation of the root tip.

• Keywords
• A. thaliana, auxin, pH, plant biology, root,
• MeSH
• Adenosine Triphosphatases metabolism   MeSH
• Arabidopsis * metabolism   MeSH
• Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels metabolism   MeSH
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration MeSH
• Plant Roots MeSH
• Indoleacetic Acids metabolism   MeSH
• Arabidopsis Proteins * metabolism   MeSH
• Soil MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Plant MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Adenosine Triphosphatases MeSH
• AUX1 protein, Arabidopsis MeSH Browser
• CNGC14 protein, Arabidopsis MeSH Browser
• Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels MeSH
• Indoleacetic Acids MeSH
• Arabidopsis Proteins * MeSH
• Soil MeSH

Dioscorea is an important but underutilized genus of flowering plants that grows predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions. Several species, known as yam, develop large underground tubers and aerial bulbils that are used as food. The Chinese yam (D. polystachya Turcz.) is one of the few Dioscorea species that grows well in temperate regions and has been proposed as a climate-resilient crop to enhance food security in Europe. However, the fragile, club-like tubers are unsuitable for mechanical harvesting, which is facilitated by shorter and thicker storage organs. Brassinosteroids (BRs) play a key role in plant cell division, cell elongation and proliferation, as well as in the gravitropic response. We collected RNA-Seq data from the head, middle and tip of two tuber shape variants: F60 (long, thin) and F2000 (short, thick). Comparative transcriptome analysis of F60 vs. F2000 revealed 30,229 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 1,393 of which were differentially expressed in the growing tip. Several DEGs are involved in steroid/BR biosynthesis or signaling, or may be regulated by BRs. The quantification of endogenous BRs revealed higher levels of castasterone (CS), 28-norCS, 28-homoCS and brassinolide in F2000 compared to F60 tubers. The highest BR levels were detected in the growing tip, and CS was the most abundant (439.6 ± 196.41 pmol/g in F2000 and 365.6 ± 112.78 pmol/g in F60). Exogenous 24-epi-brassinolide (epi-BL) treatment (20 nM) in an aeroponic system significantly increased the width-to-length ratio (0.045 ± 0.002) compared to the mock-treated plants (0.03 ± 0.002) after 7 weeks, indicating that exogenous epi-BL produces shorter and thicker tubers. In this study we demonstrate the role of BRs in D. polystachya tuber shape, providing insight into the role of plant hormones in yam storage organ development. We found that BRs can influence tuber shape in Chinese yam by regulating the expression of genes involved cell expansion. Our data can help to improve the efficiency of Chinese yam cultivation, which could provide an alternative food source and thus contribute to future food security in Europe.

• Keywords
• Chinese yam, Dioscorea polystachya, brassinosteroids, plant hormones, tuber development,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Roots are sensors evolved to simultaneously respond to manifold signals, which allow the plant to survive. Root growth responses, including the modulation of directional root growth, were shown to be differently regulated when the root is exposed to a combination of exogenous stimuli compared to an individual stress trigger. Several studies pointed especially to the impact of the negative phototropic response of roots, which interferes with the adaptation of directional root growth upon additional gravitropic, halotropic or mechanical triggers. This review will provide a general overview of known cellular, molecular and signalling mechanisms involved in directional root growth regulation upon exogenous stimuli. Furthermore, we summarise recent experimental approaches to dissect which root growth responses are regulated upon which individual trigger. Finally, we provide a general overview of how to implement the knowledge gained to improve plant breeding.

• Keywords
• ABA, SnRK1, SnRK2, TOR, auxin, green systems biology, metabolomics, panomics,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

Directionality in the intercellular transport of the plant hormone auxin is determined by polar plasma membrane localization of PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin transport proteins. However, apart from PIN phosphorylation at conserved motifs, no further determinants explicitly controlling polar PIN sorting decisions have been identified. Here we present Arabidopsis WAVY GROWTH 3 (WAV3) and closely related RING-finger E3 ubiquitin ligases, whose loss-of-function mutants show a striking apical-to-basal polarity switch in PIN2 localization in root meristem cells. WAV3 E3 ligases function as essential determinants for PIN polarity, acting independently from PINOID/WAG-dependent PIN phosphorylation. They antagonize ectopic deposition of de novo synthesized PIN proteins already immediately following completion of cell division, presumably via preventing PIN sorting into basal, ARF GEF-mediated trafficking. Our findings reveal an involvement of E3 ligases in the selective targeting of apically localized PINs in higher plants.

• MeSH
• Arabidopsis * metabolism   MeSH
• Plant Roots metabolism   MeSH
• Indoleacetic Acids metabolism   MeSH
• Arabidopsis Proteins * genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Protein Transport MeSH
• Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Indoleacetic Acids MeSH
• Arabidopsis Proteins * MeSH
• Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases MeSH

The ability of plants to sense and orient their root growth towards gravity is studied in many laboratories. It is known that manual analysis of image data is subjected to human bias. Several semi-automated tools are available for analysing images from flatbed scanners, but there is no solution to automatically measure root bending angle over time for vertical-stage microscopy images. To address these problems, we developed ACORBA, which is an automated software that can measure root bending angle over time from vertical-stage microscope and flatbed scanner images. ACORBA also has a semi-automated mode for camera or stereomicroscope images. It represents a flexible approach based on both traditional image processing and deep machine learning segmentation to measure root angle progression over time. As the software is automated, it limits human interactions and is reproducible. ACORBA will support the plant biologist community by reducing labour and increasing reproducibility of image analysis of root gravitropism.

• Keywords
• UNET, deep machine learning, image segmentation, python, root gravitropism,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases (PI4Ks) are the first enzymes that commit phosphatidylinositol into the phosphoinositide pathway. Here, we show that Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings deficient in PI4Kβ1 and β2 have several developmental defects including shorter roots and unfinished cytokinesis. The pi4kβ1β2 double mutant was insensitive to exogenous auxin concerning inhibition of root length and cell elongation; it also responded more slowly to gravistimulation. The pi4kß1ß2 root transcriptome displayed some similarities to a wild type plant response to auxin. Yet, not all the genes displayed such a constitutive auxin-like response. Besides, most assessed genes did not respond to exogenous auxin. This is consistent with data with the transcriptional reporter DR5-GUS. The content of bioactive auxin in the pi4kß1ß2 roots was similar to that in wild-type ones. Yet, an enhanced auxin-conjugating activity was detected and the auxin level reporter DII-VENUS did not respond to exogenous auxin in pi4kß1ß2 mutant. The mutant exhibited altered subcellular trafficking behavior including the trapping of PIN-FORMED 2 protein in rapidly moving vesicles. Bigger and less fragmented vacuoles were observed in pi4kß1ß2 roots when compared to the wild type. Furthermore, the actin filament web of the pi4kß1ß2 double mutant was less dense than in wild-type seedling roots, and less prone to rebuilding after treatment with latrunculin B. A mechanistic model is proposed in which an altered PI4K activity leads to actin filament disorganization, changes in vesicle trafficking, and altered auxin homeostasis and response resulting in a pleiotropic root phenotypes.

• MeSH
• Arabidopsis * metabolism   MeSH
• Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates MeSH
• Phosphatidylinositols metabolism   MeSH
• Plant Roots genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Indoleacetic Acids metabolism   MeSH
• Arabidopsis Proteins * genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates MeSH
• Phosphatidylinositols MeSH
• Indoleacetic Acids MeSH
• phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate MeSH Browser
• Arabidopsis Proteins * MeSH

Directional root growth control is crucial for plant fitness. The degree of root growth deviation depends on several factors, whereby exogenous growth conditions have a profound impact. The perception of mechanical impedance by wild-type roots results in the modulation of root growth traits, and it is known that gravitropic stimulus influences distinct root movement patterns in concert with mechanoadaptation. Mutants with reduced shootward auxin transport are described as being numb towards mechanostimulus and gravistimulus, whereby different growth conditions on agar-supplemented medium have a profound effect on how much directional root growth and root movement patterns differ between wild types and mutants. To reduce the impact of unilateral mechanostimulus on roots grown along agar-supplemented medium, we compared the root movement of Col-0 and auxin resistant 1-7 in a root penetration assay to test how both lines adjust the growth patterns of evenly mechanostimulated roots. We combined the assay with the D-root system to reduce light-induced growth deviation. Moreover, the impact of sucrose supplementation in the growth medium was investigated because exogenous sugar enhances root growth deviation in the vertical direction. Overall, we observed a more regular growth pattern for Col-0 but evaluated a higher level of skewing of aux1-7 compared to the wild type than known from published data. Finally, the tracking of the growth rate of the gravistimulated roots revealed that Col-0 has a throttling elongation rate during the bending process, but aux1-7 does not.

• Keywords
• AUX1, AUXIN-RESISTANT 1, D-root system, directional root growth, gravitropic response, mechanoadaptation, mechanostimulus, root elongation rate, root penetration assay, root skewing,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The root is the below-ground organ of a plant, and it has evolved multiple signaling pathways that allow adaptation of architecture, growth rate, and direction to an ever-changing environment. Roots grow along the gravitropic vector towards beneficial areas in the soil to provide the plant with proper nutrients to ensure its survival and productivity. In addition, roots have developed escape mechanisms to avoid adverse environments, which include direct illumination. Standard laboratory growth conditions for basic research of plant development and stress adaptation include growing seedlings in Petri dishes on medium with roots exposed to light. Several studies have shown that direct illumination of roots alters their morphology, cellular and biochemical responses, which results in reduced nutrient uptake and adaptability upon additive stress stimuli. In this review, we summarize recent methods that allow the study of shaded roots under controlled laboratory conditions and discuss the observed changes in the results depending on the root illumination status.

• Keywords
• D-rootsystem, abiotic stress, auxin, cytokinin, dark-grown roots, direct root illumination, flavonols, light escape mechanism, reactive oxygen species, root growth,
• MeSH
• Adaptation, Physiological * MeSH
• Plant Roots metabolism   radiation effects   MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Plant radiation effects   MeSH
• Plant Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Plants metabolism   radiation effects   MeSH
• Seedlings metabolism   radiation effects   MeSH
• Light * MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Plant Proteins MeSH

Plant growth is continuously modulated by endogenous and exogenous stimuli. By no means the only, but well described, signaling molecules produced in plants and distributed through the plant body to orchestrate efficient growth are photosynthates. Light is a potent exogenous stimulus that determines, first, the rate of photosynthesis, but also the rate of plant growth. Root meristem activity is reduced with direct illumination but enhanced with increased sugar levels. With reduced cotyledon illumination, the seedling increases hypocotyl elongation until adequate light exposure is again provided. If endogenous carbon sources are limited, this leads to a temporary inhibition of root growth. Experimental growth conditions include exogenous supplementation of sucrose or glucose in addition to culturing seedlings under light exposure in Petri dishes. We compared total root length and hypocotyl elongation of Arabidopsis thaliana wild type Col-0 in response to illumination status and carbon source in the growth medium. Overall, sucrose supplementation promoted hypocotyl and root length to a greater extent than glucose supplementation. Glucose promoted root length compared to non-supplemented seedlings especially when cotyledon illumination was greatly reduced.

• Keywords
• Arabidopsis thaliana, carbon source, dark grown root, drootsystem, etiolated, hypocotyl growth, illumination, root growth, shaded cotyledons,
• MeSH
• Adaptation, Ocular physiology   MeSH
• Arabidopsis growth & development   metabolism   MeSH
• Glucose metabolism   MeSH
• Hypocotyl growth & development   metabolism   MeSH
• Plant Roots growth & development   metabolism   MeSH
• Cotyledon growth & development   metabolism   MeSH
• Sucrose metabolism   MeSH
• Carbon metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Glucose MeSH
• Sucrose MeSH
• Carbon MeSH

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant hormones of steroid nature, regulating various developmental and adaptive processes. The perception, transport, and signaling of BRs are actively studied nowadays via a wide range of biochemical and genetic tools. However, most of the knowledge about BRs intracellular localization and turnover relies on the visualization of the receptors or cellular compartments using dyes or fluorescent protein fusions. We have previously synthesized a conjugate of epibrassinolide with green fluorescent dye BODIPY (eBL-BODIPY). Here we present a detailed assessment of the compound bioactivity and its suitability as probe for in vivo visualization of BRs. We show that eBL-BODIPY rapidly penetrates epidermal cells of Arabidopsis thaliana roots and after long exposure causes physiological and transcriptomic responses similar to the natural hormone.

• Keywords
• brassinosteroids, fluorescent conjugates, live imaging, plant bioassay,
• MeSH
• Arabidopsis metabolism   MeSH
• Brassinosteroids chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Fluorescent Dyes chemistry   MeSH
• Plant Roots metabolism   MeSH
• Plant Growth Regulators metabolism   MeSH
• Signal Transduction MeSH
• Boron Compounds chemistry   MeSH
• Steroids, Heterocyclic chemistry   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene MeSH Browser
• brassinolide MeSH Browser
• Brassinosteroids MeSH
• Fluorescent Dyes MeSH
• Plant Growth Regulators MeSH
• Boron Compounds MeSH
• Steroids, Heterocyclic MeSH