The root-hairless barley mutant brb used as model for assessment of role of root hairs in iron accumulation.

Main components of Strategy II mechanism for Fe uptake are secretion of chelating compounds, phytosiderophores, and specific uptake of Fe(III)-phytosiderophores complex. Since the amount of phytosiderophores secreted correlates positively with plant ability to cope with Fe shortage, a role of root hairs in enhancing root capability to store phytosiderophores under Fe stress might be envisaged. In this study the root-hairless mutant of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) brb (bald root barley) and the wild-type genotype (cv. Pallas) were compared with respect to their capacity to respond to Fe shortage in nutrient solution. Plants were grown with Fe(III)-EDTA at 0, 0.02 and 0.08 mM, in order to reproduce severe or moderate Fe deficiency, and adequate Fe nutritional status, respectively. Analysis was performed after 11 and 14 days considering leaf Fe content, phytosiderophores release and accumulation in root tips, and ⁵⁹Fe uptake. Biomass accumulation and chlorophyll content were not reduced in mutant plants as compared to wild-type ones; leaf Fe content was similar in both genotypes after 14 days of growth. Accumulation and release of phytosiderophores showed a similar trend in both genotypes when subjected to Fe limitation. Furthermore, no significant difference between the two genotypes was observed when ⁵⁹Fe uptake was measured. Results seem to support the idea that the presence of root hairs and their increased production in response to low-Fe availability, while causing major modifications of root geometry, did not necessarily lead neither to an effect on growth nor on Fe uptake and accumulation in barley plants.