Branching out in new directions: the control of root architecture by lateral root formation

• Published in: The New phytologist 2008-08, Vol.179 (3), p.595-614
• Main Authors: Nibau, C., Gibbs, D. J., Coates, J. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: abiotic stress; Arabidopsis - cytology; Arabidopsis - growth & development; Arabidopsis - physiology; Auxins; biotic stress; Cell cycle; Cell Cycle - genetics; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Developmental biology; Environment; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene expression regulation; Genes; Indoleacetic Acids - metabolism; lateral root development; Meristem - cytology; Meristem - growth & development; Meristem - metabolism; Meristems; Models, Biological; Nitrates; nutrients; Plant Growth Regulators - metabolism; plant hormones; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant roots; Plant Roots - cytology; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plant Roots - physiology; Plants; root system architecture; Root systems; Signal Transduction; Tansley Reviews; transcriptomics
• ISSN: 0028-646X; 1469-8137
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2008.02472.x

Plant roots are required for the acquisition of water and nutrients, for responses to abiotic and biotic signals in the soil, and to anchor the plant in the ground. Controlling plant root architecture is a fundamental part of plant development and evolution, enabling a plant to respond to changing environmental conditions and allowing plants to survive in different ecological niches. Variations in the size, shape and surface area of plant root systems are brought about largely by variations in root branching. Much is known about how root branching is controlled both by intracellular signalling pathays and by environmental signals. Here, we will review this knowledge, with particular emphasis on recent advances in the field that open new and exciting areas of research.