The presence of zones of high mechanical resistance, due for example to stones, soil compaction or grain aggregation is one of the most common physical limitations to soil exploration by roots and to the efficient development of the whole plant. At root level, the root apex must exert a growth pressure to overcome the resistance to deformation of the surrounding soil or reorient its growth to bypass obstacles. The mechanisms by which this is achieved are not well understood. In this talk, I will present some model experimental systems for studying how the root modifies its growth when it encounters a single or a collection of obstacles mimicking the mechanical heterogeneities of a soil.
Accès Salle des séminaires FAST-LPTMS (Bât. 530, salle C.120, 1er)