PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Stefan Mielke AU - Marlene Zimmer AU - Mukesh Kumar Meena AU - René Dreos AU - Hagen Stellmach AU - Bettina Hause AU - Cătălin Voiniciuc AU - Debora Gasperini TI - Jasmonate biosynthesis arising from altered cell walls is prompted by turgor-driven mechanical compression and guides root hydrotropism AID - 10.1101/2020.09.29.319012 DP - 2020 Jan 01 TA - bioRxiv PG - 2020.09.29.319012 4099 - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/10/01/2020.09.29.319012.short 4100 - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/10/01/2020.09.29.319012.full AB - Despite the vital roles of jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile) in governing plant growth and environmental acclimation, it remains unclear what intracellular processes lead to its induction. Here, we provide compelling genetic evidence that mechanical and osmotic regulation of turgor pressure represents a key factor in eliciting JA-Ile biosynthesis. After identifying cell wall mutant alleles in KORRIGAN1 (KOR1) with elevated JA-Ile in seedling roots, we found that ectopic JA-Ile resulted from cell non-autonomous signals deriving from enlarged cortex cells compressing inner tissues and stimulating JA-Ile production. Restoring cortex cell size by cell-type-specific KOR1 complementation, by isolating a genetic kor1 suppressor, and by lowering turgor pressure with hyperosmotic treatments, abolished JA-Ile signalling. Strikingly, heightened JA-Ile levels guided kor1 roots towards greater water availability, uncovering a previously unrecognized JA-Ile function in root hydrotropism. Collectively, these findings enhance our understanding of JA-Ile biosynthesis initiation, and reveal a novel role of JA-Ile in orchestrating environmental resilience.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.