Ion Channels in Plant Development

Abstract

Ion channels function at several levels in plant development to effect control of membrane voltage, facilitate generation of turgor, and integrate signalling. Despite the experimental problems associated with multi-gene channel families and redundancy, molecular approaches are now revealing the extent of channel function in development. Here, we review the key categories of channels implicated in development with a focus on channel involvement in polar growth and nodulation. Comparison of root hairs with pollen tubes as paradigms of polar growth reveals similar assemblies of channels involved in controlling membrane voltage and cytosolic free calcium.