Root hairs as a model system for studying plant cell growth

Root hairs are tip-growing projections that form on specialized epidermal c ells. Physiological studies are identifying key transporters required for h air growth. and drug studies have been instructive in defining the role of the cytoskeleton in cell morphogenesis. Genetic analysis is identifying pro teins involved in cell growth and the phenotypes of the mutants are instruc tive in defining the precise function of these proteins in cellular morphog enesis. Recent progress in our understandings of cell growth using the arab idopsis root hair as a model system is reviewed. (C) 2001 Annals of Botany Company.