Related Concept Videos
03:02Primary and Secondary Growth in Roots and Shoots
Vascular plants, which account for over 90% of the Earth’s vegetation, all undergo primary growth—which lengthens roots and shoots. Many land plants, notably woody plants, also undergo secondary growth—which thickens roots and shoots.
02:36Meristems and Plant Growth
Plants grow throughout their lives; this is called indeterminate growth, and it distinguishes plants from most animals. Although certain parts of plants stop growing (e.g., leaves and flowers), others grow continuously—like roots and stems.
02:33Seed Structure and Early Development of the Sporophyte
Seed structures are composed of a protective seed coat surrounding a plant embryo, and a food store for the developing embryo. The embryo contains the precursor tissues for leaves, stem, and roots. The endosperm and cotyledons—seed leaves—act as the food reserves for the growing embryo.
02:19Morphogenesis
Plant morphogenesis—the development of a plant’s form and structure—involves several overlapping developmental processes, including growth and cell differentiation. Precursor cells differentiate into specific cell types, which are organized into the tissues and organ systems that make up the functional plant.
02:26Responses to Gravity and Touch
Gravitropism: Plant Responses to Gravity
02:34Water and Mineral Acquisition
Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.
You might also read
Related Articles
Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.
Sort by
Same author
A PLETHORA3/7 transcription factor shapes cucumber shoot architecture.
The New phytologist·2026
Same author
Rational design of induced regeneration via somatic embryogenesis in the absence of exogenous phytohormones.
The Plant cell·2025
Same author
PLETHORAs shape Arabidopsis phyllotaxis through modulation of patterning robustness and accelerated inflorescence development.
The New phytologist·2025
Same author
The <i>Medicago truncatula</i> lncRNA <i>ENOD40</i> is a mediator of <i>microRNA169</i>-controlled <i>NF-YA</i> activity in nodule initiation.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author
Two deeply conserved non-coding sequences control PLETHORA1/2 expression and coordinate embryo and root development.
Plant communications·2025
Same journal
Expanding the C. elegans toolkit with gonad explants.
Development (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same journal
Nuclear Factor Y controls nutrient-adaptive epithelial growth by regulating mTOR in the Drosophila midgut.
Development (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same journal
Primordial germ cells differentially contribute to the germline in zebrafish.
Development (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same journal
Dissecting planar and vertical organiser signals in early chick neural development.
Development (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same journal
Real-time transcriptomic profiling of hPSC-derived cartilage during development identifies a key role for the extracellular matrix in homeostasis and protection.
Development (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same journal
In preprints - housekeeping the housekeeping genes.
Development (Cambridge, England)·2026
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
11:09
A Simple Protocol for Mapping the Plant Root System Architecture Traits
Published on: February 10, 2023
Rooting plant development.
1Plant Developmental Biology, Wageningen University Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands. ben.scheres@wur.nl
Development (Cambridge, England)
|February 14, 2013
Summary
Arabidopsis root growth relies on specialized initial cells that divide and differentiate. This foundational 1993 study revealed the anatomical basis for plant stem cell maintenance and positioning.
Area of Science:
- Plant developmental biology
- Root anatomy and stem cell biology
Background:
- The 1993 study in Development established the anatomical framework for Arabidopsis root growth.
- Root growth depends on a specific population of 'initial' cells acting as a source for new cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the anatomical structure of the Arabidopsis root.
- To elucidate the role of initial cells in maintaining root growth and stem cell populations.
Main Methods:
- Anatomical analysis of the Arabidopsis root structure.
Main Results:
- Identified 'initial' cells as the source of dividing and differentiating cells for root growth.
- Described stem cell-like cells surrounding infrequently dividing central cells.
Conclusions:
- The precise activity of initial cells is crucial for root growth.
- This anatomical work laid the groundwork for molecular studies on plant stem cell positioning and maintenance.