Skip to main content
Log in

Plagiogravitropism of maize roots

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The direction of root growth can be studied by analyzing the trajectories of roots growing in soil. Both the primary seminal root and nodal roots of maize attain a preferred, or liminal, angle of growth that deviates from the vertical. These roots are said to be plagiogravitropic. Experiments using plants grown in soil-filled boxes revealed that the primary seminal root is truly plagiogravitropic. It shows both positive and negative gravitropism in response to gravity stimuli and tends to maintain its direction even after growing around obstacles. These are experimental results suggesting that plagiogravitropic growth is controlled by internal factors. The orientation of the grain affects the establishment of the liminal angle of the primary seminal root, and both the position of their node of origin and the root diameter are closely related to the plagiogravitropic behaviour of nodal roots. Several external factors are also known to influence plagiogravitropism. Low soil water content causes a decrease in the angle of growth and soil mechanical resistance suppresses the gravitropic curvature. Plagiogravitropic behaviour of both seminal and nodal roots plays a significant role in shaping the root system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barlow P W 1992 A conceptual framework for investigating plant growth movements, with special reference to root gravitropism, utilizing a microgravity environment. Microgravity Quart. 2, 77–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barlow P W and Zieschang E 1994 Root movements: towards an understanding through attempts to model the processes involved. Plant and Soil (This volume).

  • Horwitz B A and Zur B 1991 Gravitropic response of primary maize rootlets as influenced by light and temperature. Plant Cell Environ. 14, 619–623.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson M B and Barlow P W 1981 Root geotropism and the role of growth regulators from the cap: a reexamination. Plant Cell Environ. 4, 107–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kutschera L 1983 Wurzeltropismen als Funktion der Wasserabgabe und Aufnahme: Die “Wassertheorie”. In Wurzelökologie und ihre Nutszanwendung. Int. Symp. Gumpenstein 1982. pp 301–322. Bundesanstalt Gumpenstein, Irdning, Austria.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lachno D R, Harison-Murray R S and Audus L J 1982 The effects of mechanical impedance to growth on the levels of ABA and IAA in root tips of Zea mays L. J. Exp. Bot. 33, 943–951.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leopold A C and LaFavre A K 1989 Interactions between red light, abscisic acid, and calcium in gravitropism. Plant Physiol. 89, 875–878.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moore R and Pasieniuk J 1984 Graviresponsiveness and the development of columella tissue in primary and lateral roots of Ricinus communis. Plant Physiol. 74, 529–533.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mosher P N and Miller M H 1972 Influence of soil temperature on the geotropic response of corn roots (Zea mays L.). Agron. J. 647, 459–462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakamoto T 1993 Effect of soil water content on the gravitropic behavior of nodal roots in maize. Plant and Soil 152, 261–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamoto T and Oyanagi A 1994 The direction of growth of seminal roots of Triticum aestivum L. and experimental modification thereof. Ann. Bot. 73, 363–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamoto T, Shimoda K and Matsuzaki A 1991 Elongation angle of nodal roots and its possible relation to spatial root distribution in maize and foxtail millet. Jpn. J. Crop Sci. 60, 543–549.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ney D and Pilet P-E 1980 Importance of the caryopsis in root growth and georeaction. Physiol. Plant. 50, 166–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Onderdonk J J and Ketcheson J W 1973 Effect of soil temperature on direction of corn root growth. Plant and Soil 39, 177–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oyanagi A, Nakamoto T and Morita S 1993 The gravitropic response of roots and the shaping of the root system in cereal plants. Environ. Exp. Bot. 33, 141–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oyanagi A, Sato A and Wada M 1992 Effect of water potential of culture medium on geotropic response of primary seminal root in Japanese wheat cultivars. Jpn. J. Crop Sci. 61, 119–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porodko Th M 1924 Uber den Diageotropismus der Hauptwurzeln bei Maiskeimlingen. I. Ber. Dtsch. Bot. Ges. 42, 405–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porodko Th M 1924 Uber den Diageotropismus der Hauptwurzeln bei Maiskeimlingen. II. Ber. Dtsch. Bot. Ges. 42, 413–419.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ransom J S and Moore R 1985 Geoperception in primary and lateral roots of Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae). III. A model to explain the differential georesponsiveness of primary and lateral roots. Can. J. Bot. 63, 21–24.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rufelt H 1962 Plagiogeotropism in roots. In Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology, Vol. 17/2. Ed. W Ruhland. pp 322–343. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard S C and Miller M H 1977 Temperature changes and the geotropic reaction of the radicle of Zea mays L. Plant and Soil 47, 631–644.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tardieu F and Pellerin S 1991 The influence of soil temperature during root appearance on the trajectory of maize roots in the field. Plant and Soil 131, 207–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varney G T, Canny M J, Wang X L and McCully M E 1991 The branch roots of Zea. I. First order branches, their number, sizes and division into classes. Ann. Bot. 67, 357–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson B F 1967 Root growth around barriers. Bot. Gaz. 128, 79–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nakamoto, T. Plagiogravitropism of maize roots. Plant Soil 165, 327–332 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00008077

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00008077

Key words

Navigation