Roots to the Rescue: Adventitious Roots Sustain Photosynthesis Resumption in Post-Flooded Tomato Plants

Our research examined the impact of flooding-induced adventitious roots formed at the base of stems on tomato plants' recovery from partial submergence. We aimed to ascertain whether the stimulation of adventitious root development by hilling would improve the physiological parameters of post-flooding plants. Our results indicated that plants underwent a substantial decrease in biomass due to flooding stress; however, those subjected to hilling treatment displayed a prompt root growth recovery, attaining a root biomass comparable to that of control plants within three days post-flooding. Nitrogen concentration in leaves recovered more rapidly in hilled plants, suggesting an expedited restoration of root absorption capability. Moreover, hilled plants exhibited a more rapid recovery of leaf gas exchange, carbon assimilation, and photochemical efficiency. In addition, a positive correlation was found between the development of adventitious roots and shoot biomass, indicating that rapid root growth in hilled plants enhances above-ground growth. These findings underscore the significance of root regeneration in the recovery of tomato plants after floods since fostering the development of stem-borne adventitious roots enhances photosynthesis and biomass accumulation.