Diversity of root hydrotropism among natural variants of Arabidopsis thaliana

Root gravitropism affects root hydrotropism. The interference intensity of root gravitropism with root hydrotropism differs among plant species. However, these differences have not been well compared within a single plant species. In this study, we compared root hydrotropism in various natural variants of Arabidopsis under stationary conditions. As a result, we detected a range of root hydrotropism under stationary conditions among natural Arabidopsis variants. Comparison of root gravitropism and root hydrotropism among several Arabidopsis natural variants classified natural variants that decreased root hydrotropism into two types; namely one type that expresses root gravitropism and root hydrotropism weaker than Col-0, and the other type that expresses weaker root hydrotropism than Col-0 but expresses similar root gravitropism with Col-0. However, root hydrotropism of all examined Arabidopsis natural variants was facilitated by clinorotation. These results suggested that the interference of root gravitropism with root hydrotropism is conserved among Arabidopsis natural variants, although the intensity of root gravitropism interference with root hydrotropism differs.

Automated summary

Root gravitropism affects root hydrotropism, and the intensity of interference differs among plant species. This study compared root hydrotropism in different natural variants of Arabidopsis under stationary conditions and found variations in root hydrotropism within the variants. The comparison also classified natural variants that decreased root hydrotropism into two types: one type with weaker root gravitropism and hydrotropism, and the other type with weaker hydrotropism but similar gravitropism compared to the normal type. However, all examined Arabidopsis variants showed facilitated root hydrotropism under clinorotation. These findings suggest that the interference of root gravitropism with root hydrotropism is conserved among Arabidopsis variants, despite differences in the intensity of interference.