Researchers Confirm Plant Can Funnel Light From Its Leaves To Its Roots
- 7 years ago
Researchers have confirmed the long-held suspicion that a plant can funnel light from its topside to its roots, ensuring the below ground portion receives vital growing information.
Researchers have confirmed the long-held suspicion that a plant can funnel light from its topside to its roots, ensuring the below ground portion receives vital growing information.
In their experiments the team, comprised of scientists from Germany’s Max Planck Institute and South Korea’s Seoul National University, used a variation of thale cress called Arabidopsis thaliana.
They began by tinkering with some of the specimens’ abilities to use light as a trigger for the production of root-growth protein known as HY5.
Those that had been manipulated suffered for it, ending up with misshapen and stunted below ground anchors.
As a means of confirming the results were due to actual transmission interruptions and not simply a glitch in chemical reactions, the team then attached a light source to the stem and a detector to the roots.
They were able to confirm light itself was passing through.
Ian Baldwin, one of the researchers, said, “These results are crucial for further research projects. Our work proves that roots are able to perceive light, even though they are usually found below ground. Photoreception in the roots triggers a signaling chain which influences plant growth, especially the root architecture."
Researchers have confirmed the long-held suspicion that a plant can funnel light from its topside to its roots, ensuring the below ground portion receives vital growing information.
In their experiments the team, comprised of scientists from Germany’s Max Planck Institute and South Korea’s Seoul National University, used a variation of thale cress called Arabidopsis thaliana.
They began by tinkering with some of the specimens’ abilities to use light as a trigger for the production of root-growth protein known as HY5.
Those that had been manipulated suffered for it, ending up with misshapen and stunted below ground anchors.
As a means of confirming the results were due to actual transmission interruptions and not simply a glitch in chemical reactions, the team then attached a light source to the stem and a detector to the roots.
They were able to confirm light itself was passing through.
Ian Baldwin, one of the researchers, said, “These results are crucial for further research projects. Our work proves that roots are able to perceive light, even though they are usually found below ground. Photoreception in the roots triggers a signaling chain which influences plant growth, especially the root architecture."