Ethological dynamics in diorama environments

Roots in flowering plants have a large number of outgrowths of epidermal cells, which is named root hair. Root hair is a single cell with a tubular shape and the root hair cells in angiosperms grow straight and long. When the growth of root hairs is disturbed by a mechanical stimulus, the growth direction will be transiently changed but reorientated toward a former growth direction again. We also found some stimuli could irreversibly change the direction. These findings imply that root hairs grow in a cell-autonomous manner based on a certain algorithm. However, the growth algorithm and its molecular basis are still unknown. To understand them, in this study, we will develop artificial environments mimicking soils by using microfluidics and observe the root hair growth and subcellular dynamics when root hairs hit obstacles that mimic soil particles. We will analyze these dynamics and try to reveal the algorithm behind the root hair behavior.