Fig. 4.

Conceptual model of root water uptake including the effect of mucilage and root hairs. (A) Illustration of the spatial distribution of mucilage in the rhizosphere and the related increase in water content. The hypothesis is that mucilage increases the soil water content around the roots and keeps the space between root hairs wet and possibly conductive. (B) Putative profiles of water content as a function of distance from the root surface, including the effect of mucilage and root hairs. (C) Putative profile of matric potential as a function of distance from the root surface, including the effect of mucilage and root hairs. Three key questions to be addressed with high priority are highlighted.