| Roots are crucial for the development of strong, healthy crops. Using Arabidopsis thaliana, Tom Beeckman and his team at Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) have now identified the genes that are essential for the formation of capillary roots. Capillary root formation is a complex combination of cell division, growth and differentiation, controlled by both internal and external signals. This ensures that the root system is able to adapt itself to constant changes in the soil environment and to adverse conditions. A better understanding of capillary root formation will enable the cultivation of crops that absorb water and minerals more efficiently and permit the extension of crop production to land considered marginal. “Alphagalileo”. See article published in “Plant Cell” 2005 (Vanneste et al). E-mail: info@vib.be www.vib.be |
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