Arabinogalactan Proteins Are Involved in Root Hair Development in Barley

The study investigated the role of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) in the development of root hairs in barley, using mutants and wild-type cultivars. It was found that treatment with βGlcY, which binds to AGPs, inhibited root hair development in all cultivars tested. Monoclonal antibodies LM2, LM14, and MAC207, which recognize different AGP groups, showed varied localization in root hair-producing cells (trichoblasts) and non-producing cells (atrichoblasts). The presence of AGP epitopes was higher in trichoblasts during early development stages and the LM2 epitope was also found on the surface of developing root hairs. The study concluded that AGPs identified by LM2, LM14, and MAC207 are essential for the differentiation of root epidermal cells and are required for root hair development in barley.