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Live Imaging of Root Hairs

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Plant Cell Expansion

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1242))

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Abstract

Root hairs are single cells specialized in the absorption of water and nutrients. Growing root hairs requires intensive cell wall changes to accommodate cell expansion at the apical end by a process known as tip growth. The cell wall of plants is a very rigid structure comprised largely of polysaccharides and hydroxyproline-rich O-glycoproteins. The importance of root hairs stems from their capacity to expand the surface of interaction between the root and the environment, in search for the necessary nutrients and water to allow plant growth. Therefore, it becomes crucial to deepen our knowledge of them, particularly in the light of the applicability in agriculture by allowing the expansion of croplands. Root hair growth is an extremely fast process, reaching growth rates of up to 1 μm/min and it also is a dynamic process; there can be situations in which the final length might not be affected but the growth rate is. Consequently, in this chapter we focus on a method for studying growth dynamics and rates during a time course. This method is versatile allowing for it to be used in other plant organs such as lateral root, hypocotyl, etc., and also in various conditions.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by PICT2011-0054 (J.M.E.), Fulbright Fellowship (S.M.V.), and Mizutani Grant (J.M.E.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Silvia M. Velasquez

  2. Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA, USA

    Jose R. Dinneny

  3. Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular, IFIByNE (CONICET), FCEyN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pab.II, Ciudad Universitaria, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Buenos Aires, C1428EGA, Argentina

    José M. Estevez

Authors
  1. Silvia M. Velasquez
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  2. Jose R. Dinneny
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  3. José M. Estevez
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jose R. Dinneny or José M. Estevez .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Fisiología Biologia Molecular y Celular (DFBMC), University of Buenos Aires IFIByNE-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    José M. Estevez

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Velasquez, S.M., Dinneny, J.R., Estevez, J.M. (2015). Live Imaging of Root Hairs. In: Estevez, J. (eds) Plant Cell Expansion. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1242. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1902-4_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1902-4_5

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1901-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1902-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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