XVI International Botanical Congess
Soil compaction occurs in agricultural and recreational areas due to the use of equipment and traffic from humans and livestock. The effects of soil compaction on the morphology of the root system and root hairs of Phaseolus vulgaris, as a model, were studied. Soil compaction resulted in longer primary roots than those in controls and a reduction in the number of lateral roots. Compaction also resulted in root hairs with decreased surface area to volume ratios and disorganized F-actin cytoskeletal arrays, compared to those in controls. Root tips displayed supapical swelling. Elemental analysis of soil in contact with the root revealed higher levels of total carbon, nitrogen and calcium than in controls and in unplanted soil. Our prelimary findings suggest that compaction may affect the surface area:volume ratio in root hairs which may be a factor in limiting the uptake of soil nutrients. We present this data in the context of flora restoration strategies in areas suffering from soil compaction