Salk scientists find highly conserved ethylene signaling pathway can be targeted to control the direction of root growth, in turn creating deeper root systems that hold on to carbon and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Salk scientists find highly conserved ethylene signaling pathway can be targeted to control the direction of root growth, in turn creating deeper root systems that hold on to carbon and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Above ground, plants stretch toward the sun. Below ground, plants tunnel through the earth. As roots soak up water and nutrients from surrounding soil, they grow and stretch to develop distinct root system architectures. The root system architecture determines whether roots remain in the shallow soil layers or grow steeper and reach deeper soil layers. Root systems are central to plant survival and productivity, determining the plant’s access to nutrients and water and, therefore, the plant’s ability to withstand nutrient depletion and extreme weather like drought.
Now, Salk scientists have determined how a well-known plant hormone is crucial in controlling the angle at which roots grow. The study, published in Cell Reports on February 13, 2024, is the first time the hormone, called ethylene, has been shown to be involved in regulating lateral root angles that shape root systems—making the findings a revelation for plant scientists optimizing root systems.
Read more at Salk Institute
