Effect of pot size on the growth of oilseed rape plants (Brassica napus)
It is well known to gardeners that plant pots can restrict plant growth, a phenomenon known as root restriction. However, the mechanism by which plants detect limited soil volume and correspondingly adjust their growth are currently unknown. We believe that plants sense the density of their own roots, and this allows them to determine their soil volume early in the life-cycle, and to pro-actively match their growth to the available resources. We are currently trying to understand this phenomenon.
Tom Bennett Lab 