Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy Quantifies Calcium Oscillations in Root Hairs of Arabidopsis Thaliana

The study employed light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) to quantify calcium oscillations in the root hairs of Arabidopsis thaliana, revealing insights into calcium signaling's role in root hair growth. The research involved imaging root hairs from 12 plants and found a strong temporal relationship between calcium concentration changes and growth, with calcium peaks lagging growth rate peaks by about 7 seconds. The study also examined the effects of auxin (50 nM NAA) on root hair growth, involving 43 control and 31 NAA-treated root hairs, and found that while auxin increased root hair length, it did not affect growth speed or calcium oscillation frequencies. The LSFM method provided advantages over traditional techniques by reducing phototoxicity and allowing long-term imaging, offering potential for further research in different genetic backgrounds or environmental conditions.