- 🌾 How plants adjust root architecture under drought? Recap of #HS paper in Current Biology! 🌱 Read the study: doi.org/10.1016/j.cu... Study showed that ABA helps crops (eg rice & maize) grow roots at steeper angles in response to drought by boosting local auxin production at the root tip. 1/4Dec 22, 2025 11:08
- This enhanced angle helps roots reach deeper soil layers where water is still available under dry conditions. 3 Key takeaways: • Under drought stress, crops form steeper root systems compared with well-watered conditions. 2/4
- • ABA biosynthetic mutants have shallower root angles and weaker drought responsiveness and lower auxin levels in roots. • Applying auxin externally can rescue root-angle defects in these mutants, confirming that ABA acts upstream of auxin biosynthesis in this response mechanism. 3/4
- These insights into hormone interactions shaping root system architecture could inform future strategies to improve drought tolerance in cereal crops. Read the study: doi.org/10.1016/j.cu... #Hydrosensing #2025recap 4/4
