Phosphorus Uptake and Growth of Wild-Type Barley and Its Root-Hairless Mutant Cultured in Buffered and Non-Buffered P Solutions

The study examined phosphorus uptake and growth in wild-type barley and a root-hairless mutant under various phosphorus conditions using hydroponic systems. It found that root hairs significantly enhanced phosphorus uptake in wild-type barley, particularly under low-phosphorus conditions in a split-root system with tri-calcium phosphate, simulating limited phosphorus availability. In contrast, root hairs did not significantly affect phosphorus uptake in a non-split-root system with soluble phosphorus. The research highlighted the crucial role of root hairs in phosphorus acquisition under low-phosphorus conditions, suggesting their importance in breeding strategies for phosphorus-efficient crops.