The molecular cell biologist Pankaj Dhonukshe from Utrecht University
has succeeded in growing roots on plants at places where normally leaves
would grow.
This important step in plant modification can be highly beneficial for
improving crop yields and efficiency in the agricultural sector. This
research was largely carried out in collaboration between Utrecht
University (The Netherlands) and Ghent University (Belgium) with help
from scientists in Japan, USA and Switzerland. The results of this
research appeared as an advance online publication of the weekly science
journal Nature on 26 October 2008.

The plant hormone auxin plays a crucial role in coordination of stem
cells and organ formation in plants. It promotes the formation of roots
from stem cells and coordinates the growth of leaves and fruits. Auxin
is produced mainly in young leaves, or shoots, and is then transported
from one cell to the next towards the basal region of plant ultimately
leading towards root formation.

Roots above ground

Pankaj Dhonukshe discovered a molecular switch to alter the auxin
transport. By turning on the switch, Dhonukshe was able to reduce the
extent of auxin transport towards the roots. The hormone then began to
accumulate at the places in the young leaves where it is produced and
roots began to emerge here where normally leaves would grow.

Increased yields

These results are an important step in our understanding of the way
plants grow and create novel future possibilities to modify the
positioning of various plant organs such as roots, fruits and leaves.
This specific manipulation of plant architecture promises to enhance
yield-traits and crop harvesting. Molecular switches are particularly
interesting for influencing plant forms, because utilization of
traditional plant refinement approaches has certain limitations. The
Utrecht research group is currently examining further interesting
possibilities in this area.

Collaborative Research

Dhonukshe carried out the developmental biology research at Utrecht
University, and the cellular biology research in cooperation with Ghent
University.

Life Sciences and Biocomplexity

Utrecht University has organised its top-level research into fifteen
focus areas, which are intended to promote high-quality research and
contribute to solving major problems in society. The study described
above falls under the category ?Life Sciences and Biocomplexity?, in
which research is being carried out into all the processes in the cell
from the molecular scale to the creation of multi-celled organisms and
the interaction among cells. Genomics and proteomics form an important
part of this area. For more information, please visit
www.uu.nl/EN/research/focusareas/ - www.checkbiotech.org .