Abstract
Root architecture and xylem phenotypic plasticity influence crop productivity by affecting water and nutrient uptake, especially under those environmental stress, which limit water supply or imply excessive water losses. Xylem maturation depends on coordinated events of cell wall lignification and developmental programmed cell death (PCD), which could both be triggered by developmental- and/or stress-driven hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production. Here, the effect of wounding of the cotyledonary leaf on root protoxylem maturation was explored in Arabidopsis thaliana by analysis under Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSCM). Leaf wounding induced early root protoxylem maturation within 3 days from the injury, as after this time protoxylem position was found closer to the tip. The effect of leaf wounding on protoxylem maturation was independent from root growth or meristem size, that did not change after wounding. A strong H2O2 accumulation was detected in root protoxylem 6 h after leaf wounding. Furthermore, the H2O2 trap N,N1-dimethylthiourea (DMTU) reversed wound-induced early protoxylem maturation, confirming the need for H2O2 production in this signaling pathway.
Highlights
Plant adaptive capacity and acclimatization resources play a pivotal role in increasing plant fitness and survival, especially in fast-changing environmental conditions
To explore the effect of leaf wounding on root xylem phenotypic plasticity, 7-day-old Arabidopsis seedlings were injured by cutting a cotyledonary leaf, and roots were observed under Laser
The wound site is an easy passage for both pathogen entry and water loss, and the presence of leaf mechanical damage triggers several local responses devoted to healing the wound [21,30,31,32]
Summary
Plant adaptive capacity and acclimatization resources play a pivotal role in increasing plant fitness and survival, especially in fast-changing environmental conditions. The unravelling of variation in phenotypic plasticity in traits of agronomic interest could provide us with beneficial tools for the development of crops more efficiently adaptable to a changing environment. Root systems play a prominent role in crop health and productivity, especially under resource-limited environmental conditions, and plasticity of root traits, such as root growth and architecture, confers functional adaptivity to soils that are poor in water and nutrients [2]. In this regard, root development and differentiation follow different dynamics and may respond to different signalling pathways under physiological or stress conditions, allowing adaptive plasticity in sub-optimal growth conditions.
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