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Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Lateral Root Inducible System in Arabidopsis and Maize
Published on: January 14, 2016
Hydrogen peroxide is involved in methane-induced tomato lateral root formation
Yingying Zhao1, Yihua Zhang1, Feijie Liu1
1College of Life Sciences, Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
Methane (CH4) gas promotes tomato lateral root formation, potentially by increasing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production. This discovery highlights a novel role for CH4 in plant development and root organogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Plants produce methane (CH4), but its beneficial roles in plant development are not fully understood.
- Root organogenesis and lateral root (LR) formation are crucial for plant growth and nutrient uptake.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of methane (CH4) in tomato root organogenesis, specifically lateral root (LR) formation.
- To elucidate the potential involvement of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in CH4-induced LR development.
Main Methods:
- Fumigation of tomato plants with CH4 gas.
- Measurement of NADPH oxidase activity and H2O2 production.
- Application of H2O2 scavengers (DMTU) and NADPH oxidase inhibitors (DPI).
- Analysis of gene and microRNA (miRNA) expression related to cell cycle and LR formation.
Main Results:
- CH4 fumigation significantly increased NADPH oxidase activity and H2O2 production, leading to enhanced LR primordial formation and development.
- The CH4-induced LR formation was dependent on H2O2 synthesis, as evidenced by the inhibitory effects of DMTU and DPI.
- Molecular analysis revealed CH4 modulated the expression of cell cycle genes (SlCDKA1, SlCYCA2;1, SlCYCA3;1, SlKRP2) and LR-related miRNAs (miR390a, miR160) and their targets (SlARF4, SlARF16).
Conclusions:
- Methane (CH4) plays a novel role in promoting tomato lateral root (LR) formation.
- This CH4-mediated LR development requires hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) synthesis, likely via NADPH oxidase.
- CH4 influences LR formation through the regulation of cell cycle genes and miRNA/tasiRNA pathways.
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