据介绍，植物通过生长复杂的根系从土壤中提取分布不均的资源。土壤湿度的空间差异被根尖感知，导致新根分支朝向可用水源的方向生长，这一过程称为水力模式（hydropatterning）。对于水模式化行为及其在作物中的遗传基础，人们知之甚少。
研究人员开发了一种测量玉米水力模式的方法，并揭示了热带/亚热带和温带玉米育种种质之间的显著差异，这些差异可能是由不同的选择压力造成的。对水力模式的遗传分析证实了生长素的调节作用，并揭示了气体激素乙烯局部抑制了从暴露于空气的组织中分支的根系生长。
总之，这一研究结果展示了不同的信号通路如何将水资源的空间分布转化为决定根系结构的发育程序。
附：英文原文
Title: Moisture-responsive root-branching pathways identified in diverse maize breeding germplasm
Author: Johannes D. Scharwies, Taylor Clarke, Zihao Zheng, Andrea Dinneny, Siri Birkeland, Margaretha A. Veltman, Craig J. Sturrock, Jason Banda, Héctor H. Torres-Martínez, Willian G. Viana, Ria Khare, Joseph Kieber, Bipin K. Pandey, Malcolm Bennett, Patrick S. Schnable, José R. Dinneny
Issue&Volume: 2025-02-07
Abstract: Plants grow complex root systems to extract unevenly distributed resources from soils. Spatial differences in soil moisture are perceived by root tips, leading to the patterning of new root branches toward available water in a process called hydropatterning. Little is known about hydropatterning behavior and its genetic basis in crop plants. Here, we developed an assay to measure hydropatterning in maize and revealed substantial differences between tropical/subtropical and temperate maize breeding germplasm that likely resulted from divergent selection. Genetic analysis of hydropatterning confirmed the regulatory role of auxin and revealed that the gaseous hormone ethylene locally inhibits root branching from air-exposed tissues. Our results demonstrate how distinct signaling pathways translate spatial patterns of water availability to developmental programs that determine root architecture.
DOI: ads5999
Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ads5999