Effect of Nutrient Availability on Root System Development

Modern-day plant root systems have been modeled from distinct ancestors and by different evolutionary pathways influenced by environmental cues, leading to varied root system architectures. Availability of mineral nutrients has played a major role in evolution and development of the diverse root system architectures. In this chapter, we review the importance of the study of mineral nutrition on root development and describe the physiological, morphological and molecular responses of plant roots to diverse nutrient deficiencies and how the different hormone signaling pathways participate in these responses.