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A dynamic model of nutrient uptake by root hairs

A dynamic model of nutrient uptake by root hairs
A dynamic model of nutrient uptake by root hairs
Root hairs are known to be important in the uptake of sparingly soluble nutrients by plants, but quantitative understanding of their role in this is weak. This limits, for example, the breeding of more nutrient-efficient crop genotypes.

We developed a mathematical model of nutrient transport and uptake in the root hair zone of single roots growing in soil or solution culture. Accounting for root hair geometry explicitly, we derived effective equations for the cumulative effect of root hair surfaces on uptake using the method of homogenization.

Analysis of the model shows that, depending on the morphological and physiological properties of the root hairs, one of three different effective models applies. They describe situations where: (1) a concentration gradient dynamically develops within the root hair zone; (2) the effect of root hair uptake is negligibly small; or (3) phosphate in the root hair zone is taken up instantaneously. Furthermore, we show that the influence of root hairs on rates of phosphate uptake is one order of magnitude greater in soil than solution culture.

The model provides a basis for quantifying the importance of root hair morphological and physiological properties in overall uptake, in order to design and interpret experiments in different circumstances.
homogenization, mathematical model, nutrient uptake, phosphate, root hairs, upscaling
0028-646X
792-802
Leitner, D.
314b2855-ce9a-43e2-b9d9-66a4d5a0bf6d
Klepsch, S.
25b54565-0c3a-42b1-904f-3f8977c9a9db
Ptashnyk, M.
9a4e308b-1975-4772-9429-7135a975428b
Marchant, A.
3e54d51c-53b0-4df0-b428-2e73b071ee8e
Kirk, G.J.D.
f7f5cb71-77f7-44f3-842c-ca6a6090b98c
Schnepf, A.
6792762b-b59d-4e2d-8773-54eebfb2fbf7
Roose, T.
3581ab5b-71e1-4897-8d88-59f13f3bccfe
Leitner, D.
314b2855-ce9a-43e2-b9d9-66a4d5a0bf6d
Klepsch, S.
25b54565-0c3a-42b1-904f-3f8977c9a9db
Ptashnyk, M.
9a4e308b-1975-4772-9429-7135a975428b
Marchant, A.
3e54d51c-53b0-4df0-b428-2e73b071ee8e
Kirk, G.J.D.
f7f5cb71-77f7-44f3-842c-ca6a6090b98c
Schnepf, A.
6792762b-b59d-4e2d-8773-54eebfb2fbf7
Roose, T.
3581ab5b-71e1-4897-8d88-59f13f3bccfe

Leitner, D., Klepsch, S., Ptashnyk, M., Marchant, A., Kirk, G.J.D., Schnepf, A. and Roose, T. (2010) A dynamic model of nutrient uptake by root hairs. New Phytologist, 185 (3), 792-802. (doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.03128.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Root hairs are known to be important in the uptake of sparingly soluble nutrients by plants, but quantitative understanding of their role in this is weak. This limits, for example, the breeding of more nutrient-efficient crop genotypes.

We developed a mathematical model of nutrient transport and uptake in the root hair zone of single roots growing in soil or solution culture. Accounting for root hair geometry explicitly, we derived effective equations for the cumulative effect of root hair surfaces on uptake using the method of homogenization.

Analysis of the model shows that, depending on the morphological and physiological properties of the root hairs, one of three different effective models applies. They describe situations where: (1) a concentration gradient dynamically develops within the root hair zone; (2) the effect of root hair uptake is negligibly small; or (3) phosphate in the root hair zone is taken up instantaneously. Furthermore, we show that the influence of root hairs on rates of phosphate uptake is one order of magnitude greater in soil than solution culture.

The model provides a basis for quantifying the importance of root hair morphological and physiological properties in overall uptake, in order to design and interpret experiments in different circumstances.

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More information

Published date: February 2010
Keywords: homogenization, mathematical model, nutrient uptake, phosphate, root hairs, upscaling
Organisations: Biological Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 142997
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/142997
ISSN: 0028-646X
PURE UUID: c7cace06-c8cf-408d-86c7-8d1eba783407
ORCID for T. Roose: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8710-1063

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 08 Apr 2010 09:13
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:54

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Contributors

Author: D. Leitner
Author: S. Klepsch
Author: M. Ptashnyk
Author: A. Marchant
Author: G.J.D. Kirk
Author: A. Schnepf
Author: T. Roose ORCID iD

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