Adventitious root formation in Arabidopsis: underlying mechanisms and applications

Adventitious root (AR) formation is indispensable in vegetative propagation and is widely used. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms is needed to improve rooting treatments. We first established a system to study rooting in Arabidopsis, the model organism in plant biology but only occasionally used to study adventitious rooting. Inhibition of polar auxin transport reduced AR formation. The role of auxin transporter proteins (several PIN-proteins) was found to be tissue-specific. Maturation (the transition from juvenile to adult) negatively influenced AR formation. Maturation was associated with increased DNA methylation and decreased miR156 level. 5-Azacytidine, a drug that reduces DNA methylation, increased rooting. We also examined the effect of two donor plant pre-treatments, etiolation and flooding, on rooting. Both increased AR formation.