The adaptive root: Endodermal plasticity and microbial composition

Summary

Plants live in close contact with soil microbes, which can influence how roots grow and absorb nutrients. My PhD research focused on the root endodermis, a barrier tissue that controls what can be exchanged between plant root and the soil. I found that this barrier is shaped not only by nutrient conditions but also by certain beneficial microbes. These effects depend on the plant’s genetic background and may reflect long-term co-evolution between plants and microbes. My work highlights how plants adapt to environmental challenges by coordinating root structure and interactions with microbes, which insights that may help in developing crops that are more resilient to stress.