Rhizobium induces marked root hair curling by redirection of tip growth: a computer simulation

Computer simulation shows that Rhizobium can induce marked curling in legume root hairs by growth induction. Essential elements are: a) the attachment of one inducing principle (e.g. one bacterium or a group of bacteria), preferably within the growth area of the root hair; b) translocation of the inductor along the growing root hari tip; and c) redirection of the original plant-driven tip growth. Also other root hair deformations, for example root hair branching and infection thread growth, can be explained with the proposed model.