Use of mutants to study long-distance signalling in response to compacted soil

When plants encounter compacted soil, stomatal closure occurs and shoot growth slows. These responses occur in the absence of detectable changes in foliar water status. The use of genotypes with a reduced capacity to synthesize either ABA or ethylene has provided convincing evidence that ABA is responsible for providing the signal that regulates stomatal aperture, whereas increased ethylene production leads to an inhibition of shoot growth. Compaction results in an elevated export of ABA from the roots while enhanced ethylene synthesis is associated with increased expression of ACC oxidase in the aerial parts of the plant. Future work will explore the mechanisms responsible for regulating these events and the contribution of anaerobiosis to the stresses experienced by roots growing under compacted conditions.