Evidence item

Using intracellular membrane potential recordings, calcium imaging, and optogenetics, we show that mechanical injury triggers an immediate local membrane depolarization and cytosolic calcium elevations whose magnitude and duration scale with wound severity. Depolarizations were also detected in neighboring lateral roots within milliseconds, demonstrating the presence of a rapid inter-root signaling pathway. Through mutant analyses, we highlight the roles of glutamate-like receptors and mid1-complementing activity 1 (MCA1) mechanosensitive channels in mediating this long-distance communication.