The rice RCN1/OsABCG5 mutation is associated with root de-velopment in response to nutrient shortage

Plants constantly sense changes in their environment. When nutrient elements are scarce, plants often allocate a greater proportion of their biomass to the root system. In the present study, we characterized the early root development of rice reduced culm number (rcn) mutants under standard growth conditions. Short lateral root length was consistent in five rcn mutants, and the remaining root traits varied between the rcn mutants. Subsequently, we characterized the effects of rcn1 mutation in response to nutrient shortage. Root development, involving the elongation of seminal, crown, and lateral roots and branching of the lateral roots, was promoted in wild type in response to nutrient shortage. However, in rcn1 mutants, crown root elongation was constant and lateral root branching was reduced in response to nutrient shortage. The present results indicate that RCN1/OsABCG5 is associated with root development in response to nutrient shortage.