Soil compaction sensing mechanisms and root responses

Peralta Ogorek, Lucas L.; Gao, Yiqun; Farrar, Edward; Pandey, Bipin K.

Abstract

Soil compaction is an agricultural challenge with profound influence on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. It causes drastic changes by increasing mechanical impedance, reducing water infiltration, gaseous exchange, and biological activities. Soil compaction hinders root growth, limiting nutrient and water foraging abilities of plants. Recent research reveals that plant roots sense soil compaction due to higher ethylene accumulation in and around root tips. Ethylene orchestrates auxin and abscisic acid as downstream signals to regulate root adaptive responses to soil compaction. In this review, we describe the changes inflicted by soil compaction ranging from cell to organ scale and explore the latest research regarding plant root compaction sensing and response.

Citation

Peralta Ogorek, L. L., Gao, Y., Farrar, E., & Pandey, B. K. (2025). Soil compaction sensing mechanisms and root responses. Trends in Plant Science, 30(5), 565-575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2024.10.014

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Nov 18, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Nov 18, 2024
• Publication Date: 2025-05
• Deposit Date: May 1, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: May 2, 2025
• Journal: Trends in Plant Science
• Print ISSN: 1360-1385
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-4372
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 565-575
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2024.10.014
• Keywords: mechanical stress, mechanosensing, hormones signaling, gas diffusion, root–soil interaction
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/42219683
• Publisher URL: https://www.cell.com/trends/plant-science/fulltext/S1360-1385(24)00282-6?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1360138524002826%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Soil compaction sensing mechanisms and root responses; Journal Title: Trends in Plant Science; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2024.10.014; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.