# Post by China Science (@ChinaScience)

**By:** China Science (@ChinaScience)  
**Published:** 2026-07-15T01:00:02.000Z  
**Source:** [X](https://x.com/i/status/2077196455131877633)

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Post by China Science (@ChinaScience)

Chinese researchers have found that plant roots can actively avoid areas containing decaying plant material and high concentrations of pathogens, revealing a previously unknown plant defense mechanism.

Published in the journal Science, the study revealed that fungi-driven decomposition of plant-derived material generated acidic pH gradients that served as environmental guidance cues for root navigation. Meanwhile, exposure to decaying tissue rapidly suppressed root growth while activating genes associated with pathogen defense and immune responses.

The findings not only expand the current framework of plant tropisms but also reveal a previously unrecognized form of microbe-soil-plant communication.

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Open on X: https://x.com/ChinaScience/status/2077196455131877633