Plant roots: understanding structure and function in an ocean of complexity

Background The structure and function of plant roots and their interactions with soil are exciting scientific frontiers that will ultimately reveal much about our natural systems, global water and mineral and carbon cycles, and help secure food supplies into the future. This Special Issue presents a collection of papers that address topics at the forefront of our understanding of root biology. Scope These papers investigate how roots cope with drought, nutrient deficiencies, toxicities and soil compaction as well as the interactions that roots have with soil microorganisms. Roots of model plant species, annual crops and perennial species are studied in short-term experiments through to multi-year trials. Spatial scales range from the gene up to farming systems and nutrient cycling. The diverse, integrated approaches described by these studies encompass root genetics as applied to soil management, as well as documenting the signalling processes occurring between roots and shoots and between roots and soil. Conclusions This Special Issue on roots presents invited reviews and research papers covering a span of topics ranging from fundamental aspects of anatomy, growth and water uptake to roots in crop and pasture systems. Understanding root structure and function and adaptation to the abiotic and biotic stresses encountered in field conditions is important for sustainable agricultural production and better management of natural systems.