Temperature changes in the root ecosystem affect plant functionality

• Published in: Plant communications 2023-05, Vol.4 (3), p.100514, Article 100514
• Main Authors: González-García, Mary Paz, Conesa, Carlos M., Lozano-Enguita, Alberto, Baca-González, Victoria, Simancas, Bárbara, Navarro-Neila, Sara, Sánchez-Bermúdez, María, Salas-González, Isai, Caro, Elena, Castrillo, Gabriel, del Pozo, Juan C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ecosystem; gene expression; heat stress; Hot Temperature; Meristem; microbiome; nutrition; Plant Roots - metabolism; Plants; root; Temperature; temperature gradient
• ISSN: 2590-3462; 2590-3462
• DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2022.100514

Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme heat events that aggravate its negative impact on plant development and agricultural yield. Most experiments designed to study plant adaption to heat stress apply homogeneous high temperatures to both shoot and root. However, this treatment does not mimic the conditions in natural fields, where roots grow in a dark environment with a descending temperature gradient. Excessively high temperatures severely decrease cell division in the root meristem, compromising root growth, while increasing the division of quiescent center cells, likely in an attempt to maintain the stem cell niche under such harsh conditions. Here, we engineered the TGRooZ, a device that generates a temperature gradient for in vitro or greenhouse growth assays. The root systems of plants exposed to high shoot temperatures but cultivated in the TGRooZ grow efficiently and maintain their functionality to sustain proper shoot growth and development. Furthermore, gene expression and rhizosphere or root microbiome composition are significantly less affected in TGRooZ-grown roots than in high-temperature-grown roots, correlating with higher root functionality. Our data indicate that use of the TGRooZ in heat-stress studies can improve our knowledge of plant response to high temperatures, demonstrating its applicability from laboratory studies to the field. Climate change and heat are limiting factors for plant growth and productivity. This study provides new insight into plant heat response using an innovative device that generates a temperature gradient in the root system, simulating natural soil conditions.