Abstract
Shaping a plant root into an ideal structure for water capture is increasingly important for sustainable agriculture in the era of global climate change. Although the current genetic engineering of crops favours deep-reaching roots, here we show that nature has apparently adopted a different strategy of shaping roots. We construct a mathematical model for optimal root length distribution by considering that plants seek maximal water uptake at the metabolic expenses of root growth. Our theory finds a logarithmic decrease of root length density with depth to be most beneficial for efficient water uptake, which is supported by biological data as well as our experiments using root-mimicking network systems. Our study provides a tool to gauge the relative performance of root networks in transgenic plants engineered to endure a water deficit. Moreover, we lay a fundamental framework for mechanical understanding and design of water-absorptive growing networks, such as medical and industrial fluid transport systems and soft robots, which grow in porous media including soils and biotissues.
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Claims 3
Claim · model-written summary
The model finds a logarithmic decrease in root length density with depth most beneficial for water uptake efficiency.
- Outcome
- efficient water uptakee0
- Direction
- most beneficiale0
- Qualifier
- logarithmic decrease of root length density with depthe0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Our theory finds a logarithmic decrease of root length density with depth to be most beneficial for efficient water uptake”
Claim · model-written summary
Biological data and root mimicking network experiments supported the predicted distribution.
Not reportedTaxonValue
Verbatim
e0“which is supported by biological data as well as our experiments using root-mimicking network systems”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors present the model as a tool to assess water deficit performance of engineered plant roots.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaee0
- Outcome
- relative performance of root networkse0
- Comparator
- transgenic plantse0
Verbatim
e0“Our study provides a tool to gauge the relative performance of root networks in transgenic plants engineered to endure a water deficit”