Physiological roles of Casparian strips and suberin in the transport of water and solutes

The formation of Casparian strips (CS) and the deposition of suberin at the endodermis of plant roots are thought to limit the apoplastic transport of water and ions. We investigated the specific role of each of these apoplastic barriers in the control of hydro-mineral transport by roots and the consequences on shoot growth. A collection of Arabidopsis thaliana mutants defective in suberin deposition and/or CS development was characterized under standard conditions using a hydroponic system and the Phenopsis platform. Mutants altered in suberin deposition had enhanced root hydraulic conductivity, indicating a restrictive role for this compound in water transport. In contrast, defective CS directly increased solute leakage and indirectly reduced root hydraulic conductivity. Defective CS also led to a reduction in rosette growth, which was partly dependent on the hydro-mineral status of the plant. Ectopic suberin was shown to partially compensate for defective CS phenotypes. Altogether, our work shows that the functionality of the root apoplastic diffusion barriers greatly influences the plant physiology, and that their integrity is tightly surveyed.

Automated summary

The formation of Casparian strips and suberin deposition at the endodermis of plant roots play significant roles in restricting apoplastic transport of water and ions. Mutants with defective suberin deposition showed enhanced root hydraulic conductivity, while mutants with defective Casparian strips had increased solute leakage and reduced root hydraulic conductivity, leading to slower shoot growth. Ectopic suberin was found to partially compensate for defective Casparian strips, highlighting the importance of root apoplastic diffusion barriers in plant physiology.