Cell Surface Receptor Kinase FERONIA Linked to Nutrient Sensor TORC Signaling Controls Root Hair Growth at Low Temperature Linked to Low Nitrate in Arabidopsis Thaliana

January 2023 in “ New Phytologist ”

Javier Martínez Pacheco, Limei Song, Lenka Kuběnová, Miroslav Ovečka, Victoria Berdion Gabarain, Juan Manuel Peralta, Tomás Urzúa Lehuedé, Miguel Angel Ibeas, Martiniano M. Ricardi, Sirui Zhu, Yanan Shen, Mikhail Schepetilnikov, Lyubov A. Ryabova, José M. Álvarez, Rodrigo A. Gutiérrez, Guido Großmann, Jozef Šamaj, Feng Yu, José M. Estevez

TLDR FER and TOR signaling help root hair growth in low temperature and low nitrate conditions.

The study examined the role of the cell surface receptor kinase FERONIA (FER) and the nutrient sensor TORC signaling in regulating root hair growth in Arabidopsis thaliana under low temperature and low nitrate conditions. It was found that low temperatures restricted nutrient mobility, promoting root hair growth, with FER, ROP2, and TOR being essential for this process. The interaction between FER and TOR pathways was crucial, as FER facilitated TOR localization and activation, enhancing root hair elongation. The study also highlighted the role of the nitrate transporter NRT1.1 and transcription factors TGA1 and TG4 in nitrate signaling, which influenced root hair growth. Overall, the research demonstrated that FER and TOR signaling pathways were vital for root hair growth adaptation to challenging environmental conditions.