Mechanisms Coordinating Wheat Seedling Growth Response as Affected by Shoot/Root Ratio

Excision of four out of five roots in 7-day-old wheat seedlings (Triticum durum Desf.) rapidly suppressed shoot growth promoted biomass accumulation by the remained root largely due to its expanded branching. Next, the rate of shoot growth increased although was not completely recovered. After the reduction of the root system, the rate of photosynthesis in the leaves of seedlings did not decrease. As compared to the intact plants, auxins and cytokinins accumulated in the remained root, whereas in the growing part of the shoot, the level of auxins rapidly declined. Shoot growth rate was assumed to decrease after the excision of a part of the root system due to lower extensibility of growing tissue, and the promotion of lateral root formation on the remained root apparently resulted from active redistribution of phytohormones and assimilates between plant organs. The prime role of hormonal signals in the coordination of shoot and root growth is discussed.