PIF2024 - EXPLORANDO LAS INTERCONEXIONES DINAMICAS ENTRE LA PARED CELULAR VEGETAL, LOS TRANSPORTADORES DE IONES Y EL CITOPLASMA EN LA REGULACION DEL CRECIMIENTO Y DESARROLLO VEGETAL (PID2023-149567NA-I00)

Environmental stressors, such as soil salinity, significantly affect plant development and growth, leading to considerable losses in agriculture. As plants are sessile organisms, their roots are essential in responding to environmental changes. The root epidermal cells and their apoplasts (the space outside the cell membrane) play a critical role in this response. This project aims to understand how the first barrier in contact with the soil—the root apoplast—along with ion transporters in the plasma membrane and the cytoskeleton, adapts to help plants cope with abiotic stresses. A deeper understanding of the relationship between the cell wall, ion transporters, and the cytoskeleton could lead to significant economic advantages in agriculture and biotechnology. This knowledge could be used to develop plants that are more resistant to stress and require less fertilizer, ultimately improving productivity. Furthermore, it could aid in the development of plants with specific compositions tailored for various biotechnological applications. By focusing on these cellular components and their interactions, we hope to uncover new strategies for enhancing plant resilience and optimizing their use in both agricultural and industrial contexts.