M. Crookshanks et al., A MODEL SYSTEM TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF ELEVATED CO2 ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY OF ROOTS - THE USE OF ARABIDOPSIS-THALIANA, Journal of Experimental Botany, 49(320), 1998, pp. 593-597
Three developmental changes were observed in the roots of Arabidopsis
thaliana (Columbia) when shoots were exposed to elevated CO2, (i) The
allometric coefficient, k, was enhanced significantly (P<0.001), (ii)
primary root length and root extension rate were enhanced (P<0.001), A
ccelerated cortical cell expansion contributed to this effect and was
associated with increased cell wall extensibility, measured as % plast
icity. (iii) Lateral root formation and extension were also increased
in elevated CO2 (P<0.05). These results illustrate that root growth an
d structure was altered following exposure to elevated CO2, The change
s observed suggest that Arabidopsis provides a useful model which shou
ld, in future, be amenable to study using appropriate mutants allowing
the genetic basis of the responses to be identified.