ABSTRACT:
The inhibited growth of primary roots (PRs) is a typical adaptive response of Arabidopsis to low phosphate (LP) stress. The role of auxin and its relationship with iron (Fe) in this process, however, remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that auxin acts as a positive regulator. A high concentration of auxin at the tips of PRs stimulates vigorous PR growth in both LP‐
arf7 arf19
and LP‐
yucca
mutants. The application of a low dose of exogenous auxin can partially mitigate LP‐induced PR growth inhibition. Enhanced auxin signaling, achieved through overexpression of
ARF7
or
ARF19
, also promotes PR growth in LP‐transgenic plants. Conversely, LP stress negatively regulates the polar transport of auxin, leading to reduced PIN activity at PRs. Mutations of
PINs
and application of NPA, therefore, exacerbate the impact of LP stress on PR growth. Consistently, PIN activity remains stable in the PRs of LP‐
arf7 arf19
mutants, and mutation of
PINs
normalizes the inhibited growth of these mutants. Furthermore, a correlation is observed between decreased auxin activity and increased Fe at LP‐PRs. Fe accumulation triggers a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which inhibits polar auxin transport and distribution at the tips of PRs. Changes in Fe and ROS levels influence auxin activity at LP‐PRs, while auxin conversely affects Fe accumulation at these sites. Consequently, Fe levels are low at the PRs of LP‐
arf7 arf19
mutants, LP‐
yucca
mutants, and auxin‐treated LP‐WT plants. Conversely, they are high in PRs of LP‐
pin2
mutant and NPA‐treated LP‐WT plants. In conclusion, accumulated Fe triggers a burst of ROS, disrupting auxin transport by decreasing PIN activity at LP‐PRs. This disruption subsequently inhibits cell division and overall PR growth.