Auxin-Regulated Lateral Root Organogenesis

Plant fitness is largely dependent on the root, the underground organ, which, besides its anchoring function, supplies the plant body with water and all nutrients necessary for growth and development. To exploit the soil effectively, roots must constantly integrate environmental signals and react through adjustment of growth and development. Important components of the root management strategy involve a rapid modulation of the root growth kinetics and growth direction, as well as an increase of the root system radius through formation of lateral roots (LRs). At the molecular level, such a fascinating growth and developmental flexibility of root organ requires regulatory networks that guarantee stability of the developmental program but also allows integration of various environmental inputs. The plant hormone auxin is one of the principal endogenous regulators of root system architecture by controlling primary root growth and formation of LR. In this review, we discuss recent progress in understanding molecular networks where auxin is one of the main players shaping the root system and acting as mediator between endogenous cues and environmental factors.

Automated summary

Plant fitness depends largely on the root, which supplies water and nutrients to the plant body besides anchoring it. Roots must constantly adjust growth and development in response to environmental signals, including forming lateral roots to increase the root system radius. The plant hormone auxin plays a key role in regulating root system architecture by controlling primary root growth and lateral root formation.