Root architecture of Arabidopsis is affected by competition with neighbouring plants

CAFFARO MM; JM VIVANCO; J BOTTO; G RUBIO

PLANT GROWTH REGULATION

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2013 vol. 70 p. 141 - 147

0167-6903

How roots detect and respond to the presenceof neighbors is relevant to understand plant belowgroundinteractions. The aim of the present work was to evaluatethe effect of the presence of neighboring plants and thelimited availability of phosphorus on root architecture. Atarget plant of Arabidopsis thaliana (Ler or Col) was surroundedby combinations of two individuals (Ler and Col),and subjected to different growth conditions (levels ofactivated charcoal (AC) and phosphorus). Both accessionsconsistently concentrated their roots towards the competitionzone shared with a neighbor of the same accession,avoiding the side shared with the other accession. All thesecompetition strategies disappeared when plants were limitedby phosphorus or when activated charcoal was addedto the growth media. Plants produced consistently fewerbut longer lateral roots when activated charcoal was addedto the growth media irrespective of the neighbors. Ourresults indicate a direct role of secondary metabolitespresent in the root exudates and phosphorus availability inthe response of presence and identity of neighboring roots