Moderate Water Stress in Rice Induces Rhizosheath Formation Associated with Abscisic Acid and Auxin Responses

    January 2020 in “ Journal of Experimental Botany ”
    Yingjiao Zhang, Huan Du, Yao Gui, Feiyun Xu, Jianping Liu, Jianhua Zhang, Weifeng Xu
    TLDR Moderate water stress helps rice form rhizosheaths by affecting hormone responses, which may aid in breeding drought-resistant rice.
    The study examined how moderate water stress (MWS) affected rhizosheath formation in rice, focusing on the roles of abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin. It found that MWS induced rhizosheath formation across all tested rice varieties, with Up1 and Zh3 showing significant increases in rhizosheath weight and improved water retention compared to Nip and Dj. The research demonstrated that ABA and auxin pathways were crucial for promoting root and root hair growth, which are essential for rhizosheath development. Inhibition of these hormonal pathways reduced rhizosheath formation, highlighting their importance. The findings suggested that enhancing rhizosheath formation through ABA and auxin modulation could be a strategy to breed rice varieties with improved drought resistance, contributing to sustainable agriculture.
    Discuss this study in the Community →