ETHYLENE AND PHOSPHORUS RESPONSES IN PLANTS
February 2002
TLDR Low phosphorus increases root hair growth in plants, partly independent of ethylene.
The study investigated the role of ethylene in plant responses to low phosphorus availability, focusing on root hair density and length, and basal root angle. In Arabidopsis thaliana, low phosphorus increased root hair density and length, partly due to more cortical cells and trichoblasts. Ethylene manipulation influenced root hair growth but not cortical cell or trichoblast numbers. Ethylene-insensitive mutants still responded to low phosphorus, suggesting separate pathways for phosphorus and ethylene effects. In common bean genotypes, basal root angles were affected by phosphorus availability and ethylene, with shallow-rooted genotypes showing more pronounced responses. The study also evaluated alumina-buffered phosphorus, a slow-release fertilizer, on plant growth and drought tolerance.