Genetically modified plants have been found to develop deeper roots, making them more resilient to environmental conditions and enabling agriculture in harsher environments. Additionally, these plants store more CO2 in the soil, helping to mitigate climate change. Researchers from the Salk Institute in California and the Gregor Mendel Institute for Molecular Plant Biology in Vienna have investigated the genetic and molecular mechanisms behind the different types of roots that plants develop. They identified a gene that influences whether roots grow deep or shallow, and found that the activity of this gene is controlled by the hormone auxin. The researchers hope that this knowledge can be used to create more adaptable crop varieties, such as soybeans and maize, to produce more food for the growing global population.
Roots are not only the lifelines of most plants, providing them with water, minerals, and nutrients, but also play a significant role in the climate by determining how well CO2 can be stored underground. The researchers used the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to study the different types of roots that plants develop. They identified a gene, EXOCYST70A3, that controls root development by regulating the distribution of the protein PIN4, which in turn regulates the hormone auxin. Changes to the EXOCYST70A3 gene result in plants developing deeper roots. The researchers hope to use this knowledge to discover more components that are associated with these genes and influence the architecture of the root system.
The goal of the research group is to create more adaptable crop varieties that can be grown in harsher environments, allowing farmers to produce more food for the growing global population. Additionally, the deeper roots of these genetically modified plants allow for more CO2 to be stored in the soil, which can help mitigate the effects of climate change. The researchers’ findings have been published in the journal Cell, and they hope that their work will lead to the development of more sustainable and resilient agricultural practices.
