Elucidation of logics of root growth and development

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Multidimensional Exploration of Logics of Plant Development
• Project/Area Number: 25113003
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: FUKAKI HIDEHIRO 神戸大学, 理学研究科, 教授 (80324979)
• Research Collaborator: GOH tatsuaki ; TOYOKURA kohichi ; MIMURA tetsuro ; KUDOH hiroshi
• Project Period (FY): 2013-06-28 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 側根 / オーキシン / ペプチドホルモン / 遺伝子発現 / 転写因子 / シロイヌナズナ / 放射パターン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The roots of vascular plants play important roles in their growth and development, such as absorption of water and nutrients from the soil, and support of above-ground parts. In this study, in order to elucidate “logics of root growth and development”, we studied (1) logics of lateral root development, (2) logics of radial pattern formation, and (3) unknown metabolic systems that control the root growth and development, using the model plants, Arabidopsis thaliana and Cardamine hirsuta. In particular, we found that there is a lateral inhibition mechanism via auxin and peptide hormone signaling when lateral root founder cells are specified/selected from the site with the ability to form lateral roots in the primary root tip.

Free Research Field

植物生理学・発生学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

根を分岐させる側根創始細胞が適切な間隔で生じる仕組みに働くペプチドとその受容体を明らかにした本研究成果は、今後、根を分岐させる仕組みの解明につながる点で学術的意義が大きい。また、根を分岐させる仕組みの解明によって、将来さまざまな農作物や樹木において、土壌における根の張り方を人為的に制御することが可能になることが期待される点においても、本研究成果は社会的意義がある。