pH sensing: Why plants can't have it all

The mechanisms by which plants sense the pH of their environment remained largely obscure. A recent study revealed that plants employ an interlaced bimodal peptide-receptor system to monitor the pH of the root apoplast, a readout that prioritizes either growth or defense.

Automated summary

A recent study found that plants use an interlaced bimodal peptide-receptor system to sense the pH of their root apoplast, and the readout of this system determines whether plants prioritize growth or defense. This discovery helps us understand how plants respond to pH changes in their environment.