Enhanced auxin signaling promotes root-hair growth at moderately low temperature in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Root hairs (RHs) are mixed tip- and non-tip-growing protrusions derived from root epidermal cells that play essential roles in nutrient and water uptake, root anchorage, and interactions with soil microorganisms. Nutrient availability and temperature are critical and interconnected factors for sustained plant growth, but the molecular mechanisms that underlie their perception and downstream signaling pathways remain unclear. Here, we show that moderately low temperature (10°C) induces a strong RH elongation response mediated by several molecular components of the auxin pathway. Specifically, auxin biosynthesis mediated by TAA1/YUCCAs, auxin transport via PIN2, PIN4, and AUX1, and auxin signaling regulated by TIR1/AFB2 in conjunction with specific ARFs (ARF6/ARF8 and ARF7, but not ARF19) contribute to the RH response under moderately low temperature. These findings establish the auxin biosynthesis and signaling pathway as a central regulatory process driving RH growth under moderate low-temperature conditions in roots. Our work underscores the importance of moderately low temperature as a stimulus that interacts with complex nutritional signaling originating from the growth medium and the plant nutritional status; this process has the potential to be fine-tuned for future biotechnological applications to enhance nutrient uptake.