The phytohormones underlying the plant lateral root development in fluctuated soil environments

Background Plants rely heavily on the formation of post-embryonic organs, such as leaves, branches, and lateral roots, to adapt to varying soil conditions. Lateral roots (LR) play a crucial role in the plant root system, serving as the primary factor in the exploration of water and nutrients in the soil. The development of LR is meticulously controlled by phytohormones to respond to the information obtained from the surrounding soil. This regulation ensures an optimal arrangement of lateral roots, enabling efficient nutrient absorption and adaptation to the challenging environmental conditions.Scope This review summarizes recent progress in understanding the mechanisms of lateral root layout in different soil micro-environments and the role of phytohormones in mediating LR development for soil adaptation.Conclusions The intricate signaling network governing LR layout involves interactions among various soil factors, which are mediated by phytohormones. Despite its complexity, recent studies have yielded significant insights that can be applied to optimize LR arrangement in soil profiles through genetic and cultivation methods to enhance crop yield and stress tolerance.