All Outputs (4)

Single-cell transcriptomics reveal how root tissues adapt to soil stress (2025)
Journal Article
Zhu, M., Hsu, C.-W., Peralta Ogorek, L. L., Taylor, I. W., La Cavera, S., Oliveira, D. M., Verma, L., Mehra, P., Mijar, M., Sadanandom, A., Perez-Cota, F., Boerjan, W., Nolan, T. M., Bennett, M. J., Benfey, P. N., & Pandey, B. K. (2025). Single-cell transcriptomics reveal how root tissues adapt to soil stress. Nature, 642, 721-729. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08941-z

Land plants thrive in soils showing vastly different properties and environmental stresses1. Root systems can adapt to contrasting soil conditions and stresses, yet how their responses are programmed at the individual cell scale remains unclear. Usin... Read More about Single-cell transcriptomics reveal how root tissues adapt to soil stress.

Root Growth and Development in “Real Life”: Advances and Challenges in Studying Root–Environment Interactions (2025)
Journal Article
Mehra, P., Banda, J., Ogorek, L. L. P., Fusi, R., Castrillo, G., Colombi, T., Pandey, B. K., Sturrock, C. J., Wells, D. M., & Bennett, M. J. (2025). Root Growth and Development in “Real Life”: Advances and Challenges in Studying Root–Environment Interactions. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 76, 18.1–18.26. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-083123-074506

Plant roots play myriad roles that include foraging for resources in complex soil environments. Within this highly dynamic soil environment roots must sense, interact with, and acclimate to factors such as water availability, microbiota, and heteroge... Read More about Root Growth and Development in “Real Life”: Advances and Challenges in Studying Root–Environment Interactions.

Roles of hormones in regulating root growth–water interactions (2025)
Journal Article
Sharma, S., Bennett, M. J., & Mehra, P. (2025). Roles of hormones in regulating root growth–water interactions. Journal of Experimental Botany, 76(7), 1987-1995. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eraf063

Water stress presents a critical challenge affecting plant growth and agricultural productivity, with drought alone causing substantial yield losses. Roots serve as the primary site for water uptake, enabling plants to detect water stress by sensing... Read More about Roles of hormones in regulating root growth–water interactions.

ABA-auxin cascade regulates crop root angle in response to drought (2025)
Journal Article
Xiong, Y., Song, X., Mehra, P., Yu, S., Li, Q., Tashenmaimaiti, D., Bennett, M., Kong, X., Bhosale, R., & Huang, G. (2025). ABA-auxin cascade regulates crop root angle in response to drought. Current Biology, 35(3), 542-553.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.12.003

Enhancing drought resistance through the manipulation of root system architecture (RSA) in crops represents a crucial strategy for addressing food insecurity challenges. Abscisic acid (ABA) plays important roles in drought tolerance; yet, its molecul... Read More about ABA-auxin cascade regulates crop root angle in response to drought.