Root hairs, the tip-growing extensions of root epidermal cells, are a model system for answering many plant cell and developmental biology research questions. This book, written by experts in the field, covers the research up to 2008 on cellular, genetic, electrophysiological and developmental aspects of root hair growth, as well as the interaction of root hairs with rhizobia and mycorrhizae in the establishment of symbiosis. With a wealth of information on technical and experimental aspects useful in the laboratory, this comprehensive book is a valuable resource for researchers and students in the broad field of plant cell and molecular biology.

Prof. Anne Mie C. Emons

Studied Biology (MSc 1969, cum laude) at the Radboud University of Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and after a family break completed her PhD at the same university in 1986. Postdoctoral studies at Wageningen University in 1987, and at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK, on an EMBO grant in 1988 in the department of Dr. Keith Roberts. From 1988 Assistant, Associate and later Full Professor at Wageningen University, laboratory of Plant Cell Biology and since 2002 Advisor Bio-organization FOM Institute AMOLF, Theory Biomolecular Matter group.

Major research interests: Plant cell biology, cell polymers: actin filaments, microtubules and cellulose microfibrils, plant cell cyto-architecture, tip growth, legume root hair, rhizobium interaction

Dr. Tijs Ketelaar

Studied Plant Breeding (MSc 1996) at Wageningen University, the Netherlands, followed by a PhD at the Laboratory of Plant Cell Biology at Wageningen University in 2002. From 2001 to 2004 Postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Professor Patrick Hussey at the University of Durham, UK, followed by a VENI fellowship of the Dutch Science Foundation (NWO) at the Laboratory of Plant Cell Biology of Wageningen University (2004-2007). Since 2007 Assistant Professor at the same laboratory.

Research interests: cytoskeleton, plant cell cyto-architecture, polar cell expansion, root hairs

Genetics of Root Hair Formation.- Intracellular Organization: A Prerequisite for Root Hair Elongation and Cell Wall Deposition.- Auxin and Root Hair Morphogenesis.- The Membrane Dynamics of Root Hair Morphogenesis.- Plant Cell Wall Biogenesis During Tip Growth in Root Hair Cells.- Modeling Tip Growth: Pushing Ahead.- Root Hair Electrophysiology.- Calcium in Root Hair Growth.- Phospholipid Signaling in Root Hair Development.- ROP (Rho-Related Protein from Plants) GTPases for Spatial Control of Root Hair Morphogenesis.- The Actin Cytoskeleton in Root Hairs: A Cell Elongation Device.- Microtubules in Plant Root Hairs and Their Role in Cell Polarity and Tip Growth.- Nod Factor Signal Transduction in the RhizobiumLegume Symbiosis.- Architecture of Infection Thread Networks in Nitrogen-Fixing Root Nodules.- Microbial Encounters of a Symbiotic Kind: Attaching to Roots and Other Surfaces.- Root Hair Colonization by Mycorrhizal Fungi.