4 replies to this topic

[rara_avis]

Hi,

Can anyone have any idea why the root system is losing its polarity?
I have been growing a certain Arabidopsis transgenic plant on vertical MS plates for 2 weeks starting from seeds in order to obtain some CCD images. But suprisingly, the roots started to lose geotropism since they were oriented towards the left side of the plate. I have to mention that the illumination on the growth chamber coludn't influence it, it came from back and front. Moreover, the roots became curly. And this phenomenon occured in two different plates.

Thank you in advance.

[bob1]

Could it be that the plants are trying to reach some limiting nutrient source - which could make them overcome goetropism (at least it does for plants where you put fertiliser on the soil surface - roots will grow up to it).

[rara_avis]

bob1, on 23 March 2011 - 02:47 PM, said:

Could it be that the plants are trying to reach some limiting nutrient source - which could make them overcome goetropism (at least it does for plants where you put fertiliser on the soil surface - roots will grow up to it).

Thanks for the answer, but what is puzzling me is that on the same MS plate and same conditions there was yet another transgenic line which behaved normally (that is right root polarity).

[bob1]

Different transgene or the same?  If it was different, perhaps the transgene isn't only doing the one thing you think it is doing...

[toejam]

root polarity is mainly determined by the auxin gradients that plants get in the roots. if your media is auxin deficient, you might be facing a problem because of that.