HAIRY ROOT Meaning and
Definition
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Hairy root refers to a type of plant tissue culture where genetically transformed plant roots exhibit an abnormal branching and densely hairy appearance, often with excessive growth of fine, root-like projections. Hairy root cultures are generated by infecting plant roots with the soil bacterium Agrobacterium rhizogenes carrying a specific plasmid, which transfers a specific segment of its DNA, known as the Ri (root-inducing) plasmid, into the plant's genome. This results in the modification of root structure and hormonal balance, leading to the formation of hairy roots.
Hairy root cultures have specific characteristics that make them advantageous in various applications. Due to their rapid growth and ease of cultivation, they are frequently used in the production of valuable secondary metabolites, such as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and flavor compounds. Additionally, hairy roots can serve as model systems for studying plant physiology, secondary metabolism, and genetic engineering techniques, as they possess a stable genetic makeup and maintain their root-like characteristics over prolonged periods.
The unique appearance of hairy roots can be attributed to the accumulation of anthocyanin pigments, which contribute to their reddish or purple coloration. These structures possess high productivity, allowing researchers to extract and analyze various bioactive compounds and study their potential applications. Overall, hairy root cultures play a crucial role in advancing biotechnological research and development by providing a convenient and sustainable system for studying plant biology and producing valuable compounds.
Common Misspellings for HAIRY ROOT
- gairy root
- bairy root
- nairy root
- jairy root
- uairy root
- yairy root
- hziry root
- hsiry root
- hwiry root
- hqiry root
- haury root
- hajry root
- hakry root
- haory root
- ha9ry root
- ha8ry root
- haiey root
- haidy root
- haify root
Etymology of HAIRY ROOT
The term "hairy root" originated from the resemblance of the modified roots to hair or fine fibers. The word "hairy" describes the root's appearance, while "root" refers to the plant organ responsible for anchoring and absorbing nutrients from the soil.
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