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Transient exposure of root tips to primary and secondary metabolites: Impact on root growth and production of border cells

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Abstract

Here we describe the use of Pisum sativum L. as a model system to measure how short-term treatment of root tips with soluble metabolites can influence root growth and release of root exudates. The results revealed that even a 3-minute exposure of root tips to metabolites normally released from roots into the rhizosphere (e.g. rhamnose, ferulic acid, salicylic acid) can significantly influence root growth without affecting production of border cells and associated exudates. Conversely, products including caffeine, saccharide lactone, and pisatin alter production of border cells, without affecting root growth. Understanding how root-derived and exogenous metabolites can selectively impact root function may yield benefits in crop production, especially in greenhouse agriculture systems where growing roots can be exposed to a significant accumulation of plant exudates.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

analysis of variance

FUT:

fucosyltransferase

GUS:

glucuronidase

UGT:

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase

PETG:

2-phenylethyl 1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside

SL:

saccharide lactone

TIBA:

2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Sciences, Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology and Controlled Environment Agriculture Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    Gilberto Curlango-Rivera, Denise V. Duclos, Jean J. Ebolo & Martha C. Hawes

Authors
  1. Gilberto Curlango-Rivera
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  2. Denise V. Duclos
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  3. Jean J. Ebolo
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  4. Martha C. Hawes
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Correspondence to Martha C. Hawes.

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Responsible Editor: Timothy Richard Cavagnaro.

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Curlango-Rivera, G., Duclos, D.V., Ebolo, J.J. et al. Transient exposure of root tips to primary and secondary metabolites: Impact on root growth and production of border cells. Plant Soil 332, 267–275 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0291-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0291-8

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