Publications – ERC SYNERGY Project HYDROSENSING

May 05

Schematic overview illustrating the library workflow, from design to screening. All coding genes were divided into phylogenetic trees, and trees were classified by function. sgRNAs were designed to target multiple genes located in close proximity to one another phylogenetically (indicated by colors). Each sgRNA was cloned into the Cas9 vector, creating a plasmid library. Transformed lines were screened with multi-targeted, large-scale, forward genetics for specific traits of interest, revealing hidden phenotypes. *Whole genome indicates all coding genes excluding transporters, transcription factors, and enzymes.

Construction of multi-targeted CRISPR libraries in tomato to overcome functional redundancy at genome-scale level

By Hydrosensing Publications

Genetic variation drives crop breeding, but traditional mutagenesis is limited by gene redundancy and low precision. CRISPR-Cas9 offers targeted editing, yet scaling it in plants has been a challenge. Here,…

May 02

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https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08941-z

Single-cell transcriptomics reveal how root tissues adapt to soil stress

By Hydrosensing Publications

Scientists have discovered, for the first time how root cells respond to their complex soil environment revealing that roots actively sense their microenvironment and mount precise, cell-specific molecular responses. The…

Mar 21

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Double knockdown of ABCG17 and ABCG18 leads to changes in ABA response in the valves. A, pRAB18:GFP signal in mir17,g18 and Control siliques at 4 DAP. mir17,g18 is mir17 (amiRNA-ABCG17) transformed into the background of abcg18-1 T-DNA insertion line. Shown are two independent transformation lines (#1 and #5). Green is GFP fluorescent signal, and red is chlorophyll. Scale bar = 50 m. B, Average (±SD) GFP intensities in indicated lines. n ≥ 4; *, P value < 0.05, **, P value < 0.01, Student’s t test

ABA importers ABCG17 and ABCG18 redundantly regulate seed size in Arabidopsis

By Hydrosensing Publications

The stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a crucial role in mediating plant responses to the environment and regulating plant development. In this study, we demonstrate that two ABA importers,…

Mar 20

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Dynamic interactions at the root–soil interface.(e) high-resolution X-ray computed tomography images reveal how plant roots impact the structural development of the rhizosphere by causing changes in soil pore thickness over time. Panel e adapted from Reference 48 (CC BY 4.0).

Root Growth and Development in “Real Life”: Advances and Challenges in Studying Root–Environment Interactions

By Hydrosensing Publications

Plant roots play myriad roles that include foraging for resources in complex soil environments. Within this highly dynamic soil environment roots must sense, interact with, and acclimate to factors such…

Feb 24

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Fig. 1. Hydropatterning responses revealed in public sector breeding lines of Zea mays (maize)

Moisture-responsive root-branching pathways identified in diverse maize breeding germplasm

By Hydrosensing Publications

Uncovering the genetic basis for this trait variance, the authors found that auxin, ethylene, and an arabinogalactan protein work together to encourage lateral root development where water is present while…

Feb 18

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Fig. 1. Hormones mediate root responses to water availability. (A) Under homogeneous water distribution in soil, lateral roots (LRs) develop symmetrically, resulting in a uniform root system. (B) Root tips show hydrotropism and bend towards areas with high water potential. ABA drives asymmetric expansion of cortical cells on the convex side of roots facing low water potential by the action of SnRK2.2. Both ABA and BR promote hydrotropism via the activity of the proton pump AHA2. Cytokinin (in red) exhibits asymmetric distribution at the root tip to regulate hydrotropism. (C) Growing root tips pause branching in air gaps (xerobranching). Lack of moisture triggers ABA release from the stele (st) to the outer root tissues, blocking the radial inward symplastic movement of auxin to pause root branching. ABA-mediated repression is relieved in the presence of water. ep, epidermis; co, cortex; en, endodermis.

Roles of Hormones in Regulating Root Growth-Water Interactions

By Hydrosensing Publications

Hydrosensing has published a new article “Roles of Hormones in Regulating Root Growth-Water Interactions” on Journal of Experimental Botany. Summary Water stress is a major threat to agriculture, with drought…

Jan 23

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Image: graphical abstract. Credit: Current Biology.

ABA-auxin cascade regulates crop root angle in response to drought

By Hydrosensing Publications

A group of the Hydrosensing team in collaboration with others discovered that the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) helps crops adapt to drought by boosting auxin production, which shapes root…

Dec 31

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Hydropatterning responses revealed in public sector breeding lines of Zea mays (maize). (A and B) Schematic of the (A) hydropatterning response in (B) our custom-built hydropatterning assay. Primary roots of maize seedlings are grown in a vertical position along moist paper while being prevented from growing off the paper by a mesh cover. Lateral root (LR) primordia are preferentially induced towards the water-saturated paper (contact-side) and suppressed on the air-exposed side (air-side). Longitudinal cross-section of maize root (B73 inbred) stained with Calcofluor White (cell walls; gray) and SYBR Green (LRs; green). (C and D) Distribution of (C) contact-(blue) and air-side (white) LR densities from 250 maize inbred lines characterized using the hydropatterning assay and calculated (D) percent air-side LRs (purple). Each inbred line is represented by its median value (n = 1-3 seedlings/inbred) (data S2). Gray lines connect corresponding inbred lines. Population median (white circles). (E) X-ray Computed Tomography showing LR patterning on primary roots of strong (CI64) and weak (OH7B) hydropatterning inbred lines grown through an air-filled macropore in soil.

Maize genetic diversity identifies moisture-dependent root-branch signaling pathways

By Hydrosensing Publications

This article investigates hydropatterning, the process by which plant root tips sense soil moisture gradients and pattern new branches toward water, focusing on its genetic basis in maize; it reveals…

Dec 31

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Roots employ several classes of hormones including rhizocrine signals that spend time outside of plant tissues in the rhizosphere. A schematic diagram illustrating (A) a longitudinal cross-section of a root growing in soil, and (D–E) examples of the contrasting modes of action for different hormone classes (denoted as yellow circles) involving (D) endocrine signalling (i.e. acting in other organs after long-distance transport), and (E) rhizocrine signalling, where this class of hormone moves outside its root source via the soil (denoted by the blue arrow), returning to the root in response to a soil stress (denoted by the red arrow), triggering an adaptive response, denoted by the green arrow and receptor binding of the hormone signal.

Root RADAR: how ‘rhizocrine’signals allow roots to detect and respond to their soil environment and stresses

By Hydrosensing Publications

This article discusses how agricultural intensification and climate change are making soils more vulnerable to stresses such as drought, erosion, and compaction, and how roots detect and respond to these…

Dec 30

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Highlights in gibberellin research: A tale of the dwarf and the slender

By Hydrosensing Publications

This article published in Plant Physiology by the Hydrosensing team in January of 2024, provided a comprehensive review of gibberellin (GA) research. Gibberellins (GAs) are plant hormones that regulate growth…