Molecular Mechanisms and Crosstalk in Plant Root Tropisms
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 26
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Plant root tropisms are fundamental behavioral responses that allow roots to navigate complex soil environments and optimize access to water, nutrients, oxygen, and mechanical stability. Root gravitropism, hydrotropism, halotropism, phototropism, thigmotropism, and phonotropism represent highly specialized sensing and response systems that integrate diverse environmental cues. These tropisms rely on intricate molecular mechanisms involving hormonal regulation, PIN-mediated auxin transport and polarity, cytokinin activity, ABA-mediated drought signaling, jasmonic acid functions, ethylene and brassinosteroid pathways, and dynamic vesicle trafficking that adjusts transporter distribution and signaling components within root cells.
Recent advances in plant biology highlight the remarkable plasticity of root systems and the extensive crosstalk among tropistic pathways. Root bending in response to a stimulus rarely occurs in isolation; instead, roots integrate multiple, simultaneously perceived cues through interconnected sensing and signaling networks. For example, the balance between gravitropic and hydrotropic responses, or the modulation of touch-induced thigmotropic pathways by hormonal or mechanical signals, illustrates the importance of understanding tropisms as interacting systems rather than standalone processes. The emerging concept of plant “behavior,” especially under variable or adverse conditions, further emphasizes the need to uncover the molecular logic underlying these responses.
This Special Issue of Plants aims to bring together original research and review articles exploring the molecular mechanisms, signaling networks, hormonal crosstalk, vesicle trafficking dynamics, and physiological responses underlying root tropisms. Contributions addressing novel stimuli, integrative signaling processes, root behavioral plasticity, and interactions among multiple tropisms are especially welcome.
Dr. Wei Siao
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- root gravitropism
- root hydrotropism
- root halotropism
- root phototropism
- root thigmotropism
- phonotropism
- touch response
- plant hormones
- PIN polarity
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