Family Ties: How Plants in the Nightshade Family Talk Through Their Roots

Greg Howard
29th July, 2024

Family Ties: How Plants in the Nightshade Family Talk Through Their Roots

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study, conducted by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Utah State University, examined how root interactions among Solanaceae plants vary with genetic relatedness
  • Plants with less genetic similarity (low degree of relatedness) showed more vigorous root growth and respiration when paired together
  • Root exudates of plants with low genetic relatedness had lower levels of total organic carbon and protein compared to those with high genetic relatedness
Understanding how plants interact with each other, especially through their roots, is crucial for improving agricultural practices and managing natural plant communities. Recent research conducted by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, and Utah State University, USA, sheds light on how root-root communication among Solanaceae relatives affects various physiological and metabolic aspects[1]. The study examined cherry (C) and field (F) tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and bell pepper (B) (Capsicum annuum) to understand how plants of different degrees of relatedness (DOR) interact through their roots. The degrees of relatedness were categorized as high (H-DOR; CC, FF, and BB), medium (M-DOR; CF), and low (L-DOR; CB and FB). Plants were grown in pairs on a paper-based, non-destructive root growth system called rhizoslides, which allowed researchers to observe root growth and interactions in real-time. The findings showed that root growth, including the proliferation of fine roots, and respiration increased as the DOR decreased. This means that plants with less genetic similarity (L-DOR) exhibited more vigorous root activity when paired together. Specifically, root respiration increased by 63%, 110%, and 88% for cherry tomato, field tomato, and bell pepper, respectively, when paired with bell pepper, bell pepper, and field tomato. In contrast, root exudates (substances secreted by roots) of L-DOR plants had significantly lower levels of total organic carbon and protein than those of H-DOR plants, suggesting different communication mechanisms between plants of varying genetic relatedness. This study is significant because it shows, for the first time, that carbon allocation to root growth, exudation, and respiration depends on the degree of genetic relatedness. This finding has broad implications for understanding plant interactions and could help improve agricultural practices by optimizing plant pairings based on genetic relatedness. Earlier studies have highlighted the complexity of root interactions and their importance in plant communities. For example, research has shown that root competition is more intense in low water availability conditions, emphasizing the importance of root interactions in shaping plant communities[2]. Another study found that root interactions could range from competitive to facilitative depending on the identity of neighboring plants, suggesting that these interactions are conditional and can promote species coexistence[3]. Additionally, the development of non-invasive methods to study root interactions dynamically has been highlighted as crucial for advancing our understanding of root physiology and ecology[4]. The current study builds on these findings by providing a more nuanced understanding of how genetic relatedness influences root interactions. Unlike previous studies that mainly focused on resource-driven mechanisms of root competition, this research highlights the role of genetic relatedness in root-root communication. This adds a new layer of complexity to our understanding of plant interactions and opens up new avenues for research. In conclusion, the study conducted by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Utah State University provides valuable insights into how genetic relatedness affects root-root communication among Solanaceae relatives. By showing that carbon allocation to root growth, exudation, and respiration depends on the degree of genetic relatedness, this research advances our understanding of plant interactions and offers potential applications in agriculture and plant community management.

GeneticsBiochemPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Family ties: root-root communication within Solanaceae.

Published 26th July, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112203

Related Studies

2) Root and shoot competition lead to contrasting competitive outcomes under water stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220674

3) Plant neighbour identity matters to belowground interactions under controlled conditions.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0027791

4) Root-root interactions: extending our perspective to be more inclusive of the range of theories in ecology and agriculture using in-vivo analyses.

https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcs296


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