AUTHOR=Jan Mehmood , Muhammad Sajid , Jin Weicai , Zhong Wenhao , Zhang Shaolong , Lin Yanjie , Zhou Yueni , Liu Jinlong , Liu Haifeng , Munir Raheel , Yue Qiang , Afzal Muhammad , Wang Guoping TITLE=Modulating root system architecture: cross-talk between auxin and phytohormones JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science VOLUME=15 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1343928 DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1343928 ISSN=1664-462X ABSTRACT=

Root architecture is an important agronomic trait that plays an essential role in water uptake, soil compactions, nutrient recycling, plant–microbe interactions, and hormone-mediated signaling pathways. Recently, significant advancements have been made in understanding how the complex interactions of phytohormones regulate the dynamic organization of root architecture in crops. Moreover, phytohormones, particularly auxin, act as internal regulators of root development in soil, starting from the early organogenesis to the formation of root hair (RH) through diverse signaling mechanisms. However, a considerable gap remains in understanding the hormonal cross-talk during various developmental stages of roots. This review examines the dynamic aspects of phytohormone signaling, cross-talk mechanisms, and the activation of transcription factors (TFs) throughout various developmental stages of the root life cycle. Understanding these developmental processes, together with hormonal signaling and molecular engineering in crops, can improve our knowledge of root development under various environmental conditions.