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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.05.14.724970

Growth under constraints: root tip development controls trade-offs between speed and mechanical efficiency

Dupuy, L. X.·Yao, J.·de las Heras Martinez, G.
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Abstract

Relationships between root tip development--particularly tip shape--are thought to play a key role in enabling plants to overcome soil mechanical resistance. However, correlations between root tip morphology and the ability to penetrate compact or hard soils have remained inconsistent. This study applies a new quantitative framework to growth kinematics data from six plant species, analysing the trade-offs between frictional energy loss, growth stability, and reduced root elongation rates. A shorter root elongation zone can reduce the fraction of the mechanical energy lost to friction, but this is done at the expense of the elongation rate. A sharper tip or increased radius can help roots maintain the elongation rate at no energetic cost, but these strategies come with the cost of growth instability (tortuous roots) and decrease in specific root length respectively. During establishment, root strategies may therefore occupy a 2-dimensional trait space in which the mechanical efficiency of growth is balanced against the explorative-exploitative trade-off. HighlightsGrowth and form of root tips explain how plants overcome mechanical resistance from the soil Trade-offs link the energy lost by friction, growth stability and elongation rate of roots Larger roots allow faster growth independently of these trade-offs New framework formalises plants strategies to acquire soil resources List of symbols O_TBL View this table: org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@2df502org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@130848eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@4ec7deorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@23e5eeorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@ccaae7_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_TBL C_TBL

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Dupuy, L. X., Yao, J., de las Heras Martinez, G.. 2026-05-14. Growth under constraints: root tip development controls trade-offs between speed and mechanical efficiency. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.05.14.724970

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