Scientists have unveiled a new mechanism by which plant roots alter their growth angles to access deeper soil moisture during droughts, potentially paving the way for more resilient crops.
In an insightful study, scientists have revealed how plant roots adapt to drought conditions by growing at steeper angles to access deeper water reserves. This research, published in the journal Current Biology, was .conducted by plant scientists from the University of Nottingham and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
The study highlights the pivotal role of abscisic acid (ABA), a plant hormone known for its drought response, in influencing root growth angles in cereal crops, such as rice and maize.
The collaboration has unveiled a previously unknown mechanism where ABA promotes the production of another hormone, auxin, which enhances root gravitropism. This causes roots to grow at steeper angles, thereby enabling plants to reach deeper subsoils to access moisture.
“Finding ways to tackle food insecurity is vital and the more we understand the mechanisms that control plant growth, the closer we are to designing systems to help plants to do this and improve crop yields during droughts,” co-corresponding author Rahul Bhosale, an assistant professor at the University one Nottingham’s School of Bioscience, said in a news release.
Drought has long been a critical challenge in agriculture, causing an estimated $30 billion in crop production losses over the past decade. Given the projected global population of 10 billion by 2050 and the looming freshwater crisis, developing drought-resistant crops is essential for future food security.
Roots serve as the primary interface between plants and the soil, actively seeking water. In drought conditions, moisture is often depleted in the topsoil, making it crucial for plants to access deeper water reserves.
The study found that plants with genetic mutations preventing ABA production exhibited shallower root angles and a weaker gravitational bending response compared to normal plants. However, by adding auxin externally, the researchers could restore normal root growth in these mutants, underscoring the critical role of auxin in this adaptive process.
Experiments conducted on both rice and maize showed consistent results, indicating that this mechanism may be applicable to other cereal crops as well. This offers a promising avenue for developing crops that can survive and thrive in drought-prone environments.
As the world continues to grapple with significant agricultural challenges, this discovery could mark a crucial step toward ensuring food security. By utilizing natural hormonal processes, scientists may be able to engineer crops with improved root system architectures that are better suited to withstand water shortages, safeguarding future food supplies.