Developmental changes in root hydraulics (Research in Context)

Annual plants must increase root water uptake during development to match an increasing transpirational water loss by the shoot. Suku et al. study barley (Hordeum vulgare) plants during the early stages of vegetative development (9–28 d old) to determine by what means root water uptake is increased. They analyse individual roots, entire root systems and intact plants using a range of experimental approaches and find that although root hydraulic conductivity (representing root water uptake properties and including aquaporin function) increases in younger plants, the main means by which water uptake is increased during development is via an increase in root surface area.