The effect of root hairs on root water uptake is determined by root–soil contact and root hair shrinkage

• Published in: The New phytologist Vol. 240; no. 6; pp. 2484 - 2497
• Main Authors: Duddek, Patrick, Ahmed, Mutez Ali, Javaux, Mathieu, Vanderborght, Jan, Lovric, Goran, King, Andrew, Carminati, Andrea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.12.2023
• Subjects: capillary barrier; corn; Dehydration; drought stress; Effectiveness; hydraulic conductivity; image‐based modelling; Mathematical models; Microtomography; Parameters; pore‐scale; Rhizosphere; Root hairs; root water uptake; root–soil contact; shrinkage; Soil; Soil conditions; Soil shrinkage; Soil structure; Soils; Synchrotrons; Uptake; variance; Water; Water uptake; X-radiation; Zea mays; hydraulic conductivity; drought stress; root water uptake; pore-scale; root-soil contact; capillary barrier; root hairs; image-based modelling

Summary The effect of root hairs on water uptake remains controversial. In particular, the key root hair and soil parameters that determine their importance have been elusive. We grew maize plants (Zea mays) in microcosms and scanned them using synchrotron‐based X‐ray computed microtomography. By me...