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Title: AN ETHYLENE-MEDIATED INCREASE OF SENSITIVITY TO AUXIN INDUCES ADVENTITIOUS ROOT FORMATION IN RUMEX PALUSTRIS PLANTS

Author
item VISSER, ERIC - UNIVERSITY OF NIJMEGEN
item Cohen, Jerry
item BARENDSE, GERARD - UNIVERSITY OF NIJMEGEN
item BLOM, CORNELIS - UNIVERSITY OF NIJMEGEN
item VOESENEK, LAURENTIUS - UNIVERSITY OF NIJMEGEN

Submitted to: Plant Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/29/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Agricultural productivity is often decreased by flooding of soil following heavy rains or excessive irrigation. Plants have various ways to overcome flooding problems, however these mechanisms are still not well understood. In this report a wetland species Rumex palustris was studied, since it has adapted to such flooded conditions. The results show that the production of new roots following flooding is controlled by an interaction of two hormonal signals, auxin and ethylene, in a unique way such that the plant is able to survive by rapid and massive formation of roots adapted to reduced soil oxygen. These results are important to plant biologists interested in development of crop plants better adapted to growth under stress conditions, to agriculturalists interested in selection of potential new crops well suited for what is currently considered a marginal area due to excessive soil flooding, and to plant physiologists interested in the interaction of auxin and ethylene in crop plants both pre- and postharvest.

Technical Abstract: The hormonal regulation of adventitious root formation that is induced by flooding of the soil was investigated in the wetland species Rumex palustris Sm.. Adventitious root development at the base of the shoot is an important adaptation to flooded conditions and takes place soon after the onset of soil flooding. Decreases in either endogenous auxin or ethylene concentrations reduced the number of adventitious roots formed by flooded plants, suggesting an involvement of these hormones in the rooting process. The rooting response was preceded by increased endogenous ethylene concentrations in the root system. The endogenous auxin concentration did not change during flooding-induced rooting, but a continuous basipetal transport of IAA from the shoot to the rooting zone appeared to be essential to maintain stable IA concentrations. The results suggest that the higher ethylene concentration in soil flooded plants increased the sensitivity of the root-forming tissues to endogenous IAA, thus initiating the formation of adventitious roots.