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Rhizogenesis Lab - Introduction
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(version française)
The
Casuarinaceae family is a large group of perennial Angiosperms
composed of four genera : Allocasuarina, Casuarina, Gymnostoma
and Ceuthostoma. These plants have the ability to thrive under
a range of environmental stresses and poor soils.
This
is due to the outstanding plasticity of their root
system. Roots from Casuarina can form nitrogen-fixing root
nodules (actinorhizae)
in symbiosis with the actinomycete Frankia.
They also develop endo or ectomycorrhizae that increase the mineral nutrition. In extremely poor soils, cluster roots
(or proteoid roots) also appear. They have been shown to increase both
iron and phosphorus intake by the plant. Myconodules
have also been described in some Gymnostoma trees (Duhoux et al.,
New Phytol. 149: 115-125, 2001). Their function is unknown. All these
specialised structures are modified lateral roots.
We are interested in understanding
the molecular bases of the plasticity of development of the Casuarinaceae
root system
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