Significance of root hairs in developing stress-resilient plants for sustainable crop production

Abstract

Root hairs represent a beneficial agronomic trait to potentially reduce fertiliser and irrigation inputs. Over the past decades, research in the plant model Arabidopsis thaliana has provided insights about root hair development, the underlying genetic framework, and the integration of environmental cues within this framework. Recent years have seen a paradigm shift, where studies are now highlighting conservation and diversification of root hair developmental programs in other plant species and the agronomic relevance of root hairs in a wider ecological context. In this review, we specifically discuss the molecular evolution of RSL (RHD Six-Like) pathway that controls root hair development and growth in land plants. We also discuss how root hairs contribute to plant performance as an active physiological rooting structure by performing resource acquisition, providing anchorage, and constructing the rhizosphere with desirable physical, chemical, and biological properties. Finally, we outline future research directions that can help achieve the potential of root hairs in developing sustainable agroecosystems.