Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Using Flatbed Scanners to Collect High-resolution Time-lapsed Images of the Arabidopsis Root Gravitropic Response
Published on: January 25, 2014
Root system architecture and gravitropism in the oil palm
C Jourdan1, N Michaux-Ferriere, G Perbal
1Departement des Cultures Perennes, Centre de Cooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Developpement, Montpellier, France. jourdan@cirad.fr
Abstract:
The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) has a root system consisting of primary (or order 1) roots, which are either orthogravitropic (R1 VD, with positive gravitropism) or diagravitropic (R1 H). Their statenchyma have very similar characteristics (mainly vacuolated, large cells). However, their statoliths sediment along the longitudinal wall in R1 H and along the distal wall in R1 VD (furthest cell wall from the apical meristem, opposite the proximal wall). Order 2 roots may have vertical upward (R2 VU) or downward growth (R2 VD) or even horizontal growth (R2 H). In all cases, the statoliths are located near the lower wall of the statocyte (distal in R2 VD, proximal in R2 VU and longitudinal in R2 H). Order 3 roots are usually agravitropic. When they grow upwards, R3 VU, their amyloplasts are located near the proximal wall. Likewise, the growth direction of R4 varies, but they have little or no statolith sedimentation. Roots with marked gravitropism (positive or negative) have amyloplasts that can sediment along different walls. But, irrespective of amyloplast position in the statocytes, the direction of root growth may be stable. The relation between the different reactions of roots and different sensitivity to auxin or to a curvature-halting signal is discussed.
Related Concept Videos
C4 Pathway and CAM
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
Meristems and Plant Growth
Primary and Secondary Growth in Roots and Shoots
Water and Mineral Acquisition
Responses to Gravity and Touch
Cell Signaling in Plants

