Casparian strip development and its potential function in salt tolerance

The root system is particularly affected by unfavorable conditions because it is in direct contact with the soil environment. Casparian strips, a specialized structure deposited in anticlinal walls, are characterized by the impregnation of the primary wall pores with lignin and suberin. The Casparian strips in the endo-and exodermis of vascular plant roots appear to play an important role in preventing the non-selective apoplastic bypass of salts into the stele along the apoplast under salt stress. However, only a few investigations have examined the deposition and function of these apoplastic barriers in response to salt stress in higher plants. © 2011 Landes Bioscience.