Root border cells play a key role in cold tolerance in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Root border cells (RBCs) are a unique cell type that is initiated around the root tips of higher plants, which could be easily detached from the root tissue upon immersion of the root in water (Hawes, 2000). RBCs play a dynamic role in plant adaptation.
Previous studies have demonstrated their involvement in response to pathogen infection, aluminum stress, and high CO₂ level.
Cucumber is an importantly economic crop that is strongly influenced by low temperature that is a limiting factor for cucumber production.
Here we used physiological and microscopic methods to characterize the role of RBCs in two cucumber cultivars that were grown at varying temperatures.
We confirmed that low temperature inhibited cucumber root elongation.
We found that roots that produce more RBCs had reduced viability in response to low temperatures.
We also found that RBCs produced a thicker mucilage layer in response to low temperatures – an adaptive response that helps maintain root growth during temperature stress.
Our findings suggest that RBCs play an important role in modulating low-temperature tolerance in cucumber.

VII International Symposium on Cucurbits

Xingwang Liu, Rui Lu, Hongju Zhu, Huazhong Ren

cucumber, root border cells, low temperature tolerance, mucilage layer, root activity

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2024.1411.17