Neurobiological View of Plants and Their Body Plan - Communication in Plants: Neuronal Aspects of Plant Life - page 22

Although plants cannot physically move, active root growth allows ex-
ploration of soil niches for nutrition. This implies that root apices are not
only sites of nutrient uptake but also sites of forward movement, both of
whichareattributesofanteriorpolesofmulticellularorganisms(Douglaset
al. 2005; Barlow, this volume). Moreover, our preliminary data suggest that,
in addition, root apices are specialized for neuronal-like activities based on
plant synapses (Baluška et al. 2004b, 2005a). Interestingly in this respect,
roots enter into symbiotic interactions with bacteria (Denison and Toby
Kiers 2004) and mycorrhizal fungi (Vandenkoornhuyse et al. 2002). In fact,
most free-living roots are part of a root-fungus commune (Brundrett 2002).
Moreover, roots are special also with respect to nematode parasitism when
these hijack both auxin transport and signalling pathways to transform root
stele cells into giant feeding cells (Hutangura et al. 1999; Bird and Kaloshian
2003). All this suggests that the underground roots are more engaged in
social activities that require self-awareness than the aboveground shoots.
In contrast to shoot apices, root apices assemble active synapses along
distinctive cell files (Fig. 2.1), show a clear developmental zonation with
a transition zone (discussed later), and execute complex patterns of polar
Fig. 2.1. Anatomical basis of root and shoot apices. Anatomical organization of root ( a )and
shoot ( b ) apices. Note very regular cell files, with cross-walls representing plant synapses,
in root apices. On the other hand, cells in shoot apices are irregularly shaped and fail to
arrange into regular cell files