Nitrate regulates anchor root development
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Nitrogen is a critical nutrient necessary for plant growth and survival. Plasticity in root architecture helps adapt to soil nitrogen levels for optimal nitrogen uptake; the nitrate form of soil nitrogen is a major modulator of root architecture. Although details of nitrate-regulated primary and lateral root growth are known, nitrate-regulated formation of anchor roots, which arise from the collet, is not understood. In this work, we uncover a role for nitrate in the regulation of anchor root formation. We find that cytokinin inhibits anchor root formation with rising nitrate. These cytokinin effects on anchor root formation rely on regulated indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) conversion. These data point toward a mechanism by which nitrate controls a previously underappreciated aspect of nitrate-dependent root architecture driven by anchor roots. Summary Statement: Elevated nitrate levels promote anchor root formation to alter root growth. In Arabidopsis, cytokinin restricts anchor root formation at elevated nitrate levels through indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) derived auxin.
Institution: Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204939370