Root growth maintenance during water deficits: physiology to functional genomics

Progress in understanding the network of mechanisms involved in maize primary root growth maintenance under water deficits is reviewed. These include the adjustment of growth zone dimensions, turgor maintenance by osmotic adjustment, and enhanced cell wall loosening. The role of the hormone abscisic acid (ABA) in maintaining root growth under water deficits is also addressed. The research has taken advantage of kinematic analysis, i.e. characterization of spatial and temporal patterns of cell expansion within the root growth zone. This approach revealed different growth responses to water deficits and ABA deficiency in distinct regions of the root tip. In the apical 3 mm region, elongation is maintained at…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Award: 0211842
• UO
  University of Missouri
• UO
  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign