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Wolf ESA, Vela S, Wilker J, Davis A, Robert M, Infante V, Venado RE, Voiniciuc C, Ané JM, Vermerris W. Identification of genetic and environmental factors influencing aerial root traits that support biological nitrogen fixation in sorghum. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkad285. [PMID: 38096484 PMCID: PMC10917507 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Plant breeding and genetics play a major role in the adaptation of plants to meet human needs. The current requirement to make agriculture more sustainable can be partly met by a greater reliance on biological nitrogen fixation by symbiotic diazotrophic microorganisms that provide crop plants with ammonium. Select accessions of the cereal crop sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) form mucilage-producing aerial roots that harbor nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Breeding programs aimed at developing sorghum varieties that support diazotrophs will benefit from a detailed understanding of the genetic and environmental factors contributing to aerial root formation. A genome-wide association study of the sorghum minicore, a collection of 242 landraces, and 30 accessions from the sorghum association panel was conducted in Florida and Wisconsin and under 2 fertilizer treatments to identify loci associated with the number of nodes with aerial roots and aerial root diameter. Sequence variation in genes encoding transcription factors that control phytohormone signaling and root system architecture showed significant associations with these traits. In addition, the location had a significant effect on the phenotypes. Concurrently, we developed F2 populations from crosses between bioenergy sorghums and a landrace that produced extensive aerial roots to evaluate the mode of inheritance of the loci identified by the genome-wide association study. Furthermore, the mucilage collected from aerial roots contained polysaccharides rich in galactose, arabinose, and fucose, whose composition displayed minimal variation among 10 genotypes and 2 fertilizer treatments. These combined results support the development of sorghums with the ability to acquire nitrogen via biological nitrogen fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S A Wolf
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32609, USA
| | - Saddie Vela
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32609, USA
| | - Jennifer Wilker
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Alyssa Davis
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Madalen Robert
- Independent Junior Research Group–Designer Glycans, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32609, USA
| | - Valentina Infante
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Rafael E Venado
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Cătălin Voiniciuc
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32609, USA
| | - Jean-Michel Ané
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Wilfred Vermerris
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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2
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Zhang S, Zhang D, Guo Y, Zhao J, Bao Z. Rhizosphere-Associated Anammox Bacterial Diversity and Abundance of Nitrogen Cycle-Related Functional Genes of Emergent Macrophytes in Eutrophic Wetlands. Curr Microbiol 2024; 81:107. [PMID: 38427056 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-024-03620-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Rhizospheric microbial community of emergent macrophytes plays an important role in nitrogen removal, especially in the eutrophic wetlands. The objective of this study was to identify the differences in anammox bacterial community composition among different emergent macrophytes and investigate revealed the the main factors affecting on the composition, diversity, and abundance of anammox bacterial community. Results showed that the composition, diversity, and abundance of the anammox community were significantly different between the vegetated sediments of three emergent macrophytes and unvegetated sediment. The composition of the anammox bacterial community was different in the vegetated sediments of different emergent macrophytes. Also, the abundance of nitrogen cycle-related functional genes in the vegetated sediments was found to be higher than that in the unvegetated sediment. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and structural equation models analysis (SEM) showed that salinity and pH were the main environmental factors influencing the composition and diversity of the anammox bacterial community and NO2--N indirectly affected anammox bacterial community diversity by affecting TOC. nirK-type denitrifying bacteria abundance had significant effects on the bacterial community composition, diversity, and abundance of anammox bacteria. The community composition of anammox bacteria varies with emergent macrophyte species. The rhizosphere of emergent macrophytes provides a favorable environment and promotes the growth of nitrogen cycling-related microorganisms that likely accelerate nitrogen removal in eutrophic wetlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohua Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, 235 West University Street, Hohhot, 010021, China.
| | - Duo Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, 235 West University Street, Hohhot, 010021, China
| | - Ying Guo
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, 235 West University Street, Hohhot, 010021, China
| | - Ji Zhao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, 235 West University Street, Hohhot, 010021, China
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control & Waste Resource Reuse, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010021, China
| | - Zhihua Bao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, 235 West University Street, Hohhot, 010021, China
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control & Waste Resource Reuse, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010021, China
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Siosiou A, Sparks EE, Tsialtas IT. Brace roots in C 3 Poaceae: where have they gone? MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2023; 2023:10.17912/micropub.biology.000939. [PMID: 37799209 PMCID: PMC10550375 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Brace roots are common in large C 4 Poaceae species, such as maize and sorghum. However, in other species, these roots were either never reported, or the existence of the trait was neglected. Here we report the presence of brace roots in a high-performing Avena sativa L. (oat) line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Siosiou
- Faculty of Agriculture, Lab. of Agronomy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
| | - Erin E. Sparks
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States
| | - Ioannis T. Tsialtas
- Faculty of Agriculture, Lab. of Agronomy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
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Menamo T, Borrell AK, Mace E, Jordan DR, Tao Y, Hunt C, Kassahun B. Genetic dissection of root architecture in Ethiopian sorghum landraces. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2023; 136:209. [PMID: 37715848 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-023-04457-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE This study quantified genetic variation in root system architecture (root number, angle, length and dry mass) within a diversity panel of 1771 Ethiopian sorghum landraces and identified 22 genomic regions associated with the root variations. The root system architecture (RSA) of crop plants influences adaptation to water-limited conditions and determines the capacity of a plant to access soil water and nutrients. Four key root traits (number, angle, length and dry mass) were evaluated in a diversity panel of 1771 Ethiopian sorghum landraces using purpose-built root chambers. Significant genetic variation was observed in all studied root traits, with nodal root angle ranging from 16.4° to 26.6°, with a high repeatability of 78.9%. Genome wide association studies identified a total of 22 genomic regions associated with root traits which were distributed on all chromosomes except chromosome SBI-10. Among the 22 root genomic regions, 15 co-located with RSA trait QTL previously identified in sorghum, with the remaining seven representing novel RSA QTL. The majority (85.7%) of identified root angle QTL also co-localized with QTL previously identified for stay-green in sorghum. This suggests that the stay-green phenotype might be associated with root architecture that enhances water extraction during water stress conditions. The results open avenues for manipulating root phenotypes to improve productivity in abiotic stress environments via marker-assisted selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temesgen Menamo
- College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Andrew K Borrell
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), University of Queensland, Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, 4370, Australia
| | - Emma Mace
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), University of Queensland, Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, 4370, Australia
- Agri-Science Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, 4370, Australia
| | - David R Jordan
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), University of Queensland, Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, 4370, Australia
| | - Yongfu Tao
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), University of Queensland, Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, 4370, Australia
| | - Colleen Hunt
- Agri-Science Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, QLD, 4370, Australia
| | - Bantte Kassahun
- College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia.
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Takanashi H. Genetic control of morphological traits useful for improving sorghum. BREEDING SCIENCE 2023; 73:57-69. [PMID: 37168813 PMCID: PMC10165342 DOI: 10.1270/jsbbs.22069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change and global warming, coupled with the growing population, have raised concerns about sustainable food supply and bioenergy demand. Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] ranks fifth among cereals produced worldwide; it is a C4 crop with a higher stress tolerance than other major cereals and has a wide range of uses, such as grains, forage, and biomass. Therefore, sorghum has attracted attention as a promising crop for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). In addition, sorghum is a suitable genetic model for C4 grasses because of its high morphological diversity and relatively small genome size compared to other C4 grasses. Although sorghum breeding and genetic studies have lagged compared to other crops such as rice and maize, recent advances in research have identified several genes and many quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that control important agronomic traits in sorghum. This review outlines traits and genetic information with a focus on morphogenetic aspects that may be useful in sorghum breeding for grain and biomass utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideki Takanashi
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
- Corresponding author (e-mail: )
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6
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Maqbool S, Hassan MA, Xia X, York LM, Rasheed A, He Z. Root system architecture in cereals: progress, challenges and perspective. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 110:23-42. [PMID: 35020968 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Roots are essential multifunctional plant organs involved in water and nutrient uptake, metabolite storage, anchorage, mechanical support, and interaction with the soil environment. Understanding of this 'hidden half' provides potential for manipulation of root system architecture (RSA) traits to optimize resource use efficiency and grain yield in cereal crops. Unfortunately, root traits are highly neglected in breeding due to the challenges of phenotyping, but could have large rewards if the variability in RSA traits can be fully exploited. Until now, a plethora of genes have been characterized in detail for their potential role in improving RSA. The use of forward genetics approaches to find sequence variations in genes underpinning desirable RSA would be highly beneficial. Advances in computer vision applications have allowed image-based approaches for high-throughput phenotyping of RSA traits that can be used by any laboratory worldwide to make progress in understanding root function and dissection of the genetics. At the same time, the frontiers of root measurement include non-invasive methods like X-ray computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging that facilitate new types of temporal studies. Root physiology and ecology are further supported by spatiotemporal root simulation modeling. The discovery of component traits providing improved resilience and yield advantage in target environments is a key necessity for mainstreaming root-based cereal breeding. The integrated use of pan-genome resources, now available in most cereals, coupled with new in-field phenotyping platforms has the potential for precise selection of superior genotypes with improved RSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saman Maqbool
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Adeel Hassan
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xianchun Xia
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Larry M York
- Biosciences Division and Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Awais Rasheed
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
- International Wheat and Maize Improvement Center (CIMMYT) China Office, c/o CAAS, 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Zhonghu He
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
- International Wheat and Maize Improvement Center (CIMMYT) China Office, c/o CAAS, 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
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7
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Ranjan A, Sinha R, Singla-Pareek SL, Pareek A, Singh AK. Shaping the root system architecture in plants for adaptation to drought stress. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2022; 174:e13651. [PMID: 35174506 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Root system architecture plays an important role in plant adaptation to drought stress. The root system architecture (RSA) consists of several structural features, which includes number and length of main and lateral roots along with the density and length of root hairs. These features exhibit plasticity under water-limited environments and could be critical to developing crops with efficient root systems for adaptation under drought. Recent advances in the omics approaches have significantly improved our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of RSA remodeling under drought and the identification of genes and other regulatory elements. Plant response to drought stress at physiological, morphological, biochemical, and molecular levels in root cells is regulated by various phytohormones and their crosstalk. Stress-induced reactive oxygen species play a significant role in regulating root growth and development under drought stress. Several transcription factors responsible for the regulation of RSA under drought have proven to be beneficial for developing drought tolerant crops. Molecular breeding programs for developing drought-tolerant crops have been greatly benefitted by the availability of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with the RSA regulation. In the present review, we have discussed the role of various QTLs, signaling components, transcription factors, microRNAs and crosstalk among various phytohormones in shaping RSA and present future research directions to better understand various factors involved in RSA remodeling for adaptation to drought stress. We believe that the information provided herein may be helpful in devising strategies to develop crops with better RSA for efficient uptake and utilization of water and nutrients under drought conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alok Ranjan
- School of Genetic Engineering, ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi, India
| | - Ragini Sinha
- School of Genetic Engineering, ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi, India
| | - Sneh L Singla-Pareek
- Plant Stress Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Ashwani Pareek
- Stress Physiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
- National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Anil Kumar Singh
- School of Genetic Engineering, ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi, India
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, LBS Centre, New Delhi, India
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8
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Abreha KB, Enyew M, Carlsson AS, Vetukuri RR, Feyissa T, Motlhaodi T, Ng'uni D, Geleta M. Sorghum in dryland: morphological, physiological, and molecular responses of sorghum under drought stress. PLANTA 2021; 255:20. [PMID: 34894286 PMCID: PMC8665920 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-021-03799-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Droughts negatively affect sorghum's productivity and nutritional quality. Across its diversity centers, however, there exist resilient genotypes that function differently under drought stress at various levels, including molecular and physiological. Sorghum is an economically important and a staple food crop for over half a billion people in developing countries, mostly in arid and semi-arid regions where drought stress is a major limiting factor. Although sorghum is generally considered tolerant, drought stress still significantly hampers its productivity and nutritional quality across its major cultivation areas. Hence, understanding both the effects of the stress and plant response is indispensable for improving drought tolerance of the crop. This review aimed at enhancing our understanding and provide more insights on drought tolerance in sorghum as a contribution to the development of climate resilient sorghum cultivars. We summarized findings on the effects of drought on the growth and development of sorghum including osmotic potential that impedes germination process and embryonic structures, photosynthetic rates, and imbalance in source-sink relations that in turn affect seed filling often manifested in the form of substantial reduction in grain yield and quality. Mechanisms of sorghum response to drought-stress involving morphological, physiological, and molecular alterations are presented. We highlighted the current understanding about the genetic basis of drought tolerance in sorghum, which is important for maximizing utilization of its germplasm for development of improved cultivars. Furthermore, we discussed interactions of drought with other abiotic stresses and biotic factors, which may increase the vulnerability of the crop or enhance its tolerance to drought stress. Based on the research reviewed in this article, it appears possible to develop locally adapted cultivars of sorghum that are drought tolerant and nutrient rich using modern plant breeding techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kibrom B Abreha
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 190, 234 22, Lomma, Sweden.
| | - Muluken Enyew
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 190, 234 22, Lomma, Sweden
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Anders S Carlsson
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 190, 234 22, Lomma, Sweden
| | - Ramesh R Vetukuri
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 190, 234 22, Lomma, Sweden
| | - Tileye Feyissa
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tiny Motlhaodi
- Department of Agricultural Research, Private Bag, 0033, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Dickson Ng'uni
- Zambia Agriculture Research Institute, Mount Makulu Research Station, P/B 7, Chilanga, Zambia
| | - Mulatu Geleta
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 190, 234 22, Lomma, Sweden
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Sheoran S, Kumar S, Kumar P, Meena RS, Rakshit S. Nitrogen fixation in maize: breeding opportunities. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2021; 134:1263-1280. [PMID: 33677701 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-021-03791-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a highly versatile crop with huge demand of nitrogen (N) for its growth and development. N is the most essential macronutrient for crop production. Despite being the highest abundant element in the atmosphere (~ 78%), it is scarcely available for plant growth. To fulfil the N demand, commercial agriculture is largely dependent on synthetic fertilizers. Excessive dependence on inorganic fertilizers has created extensive ecological as well as economic problems worldwide. Hence, for a sustainable solution to nitrogenous fertilizer use, development of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in cereals will be the best alternative. BNF is a well-known mechanism in legumes where diazotrophs convert atmospheric nitrogen (N≡N) to plant-available form, ammonium (NH4+). From many decades, researchers have dreamt to develop a similar symbiotic partnership as in legumes to the cereal crops. A large number of endophytic diazotrophs have been found associated with maize. Elucidation of the genetic and molecular aspects of their interaction will open up new avenues to introgress BNF in maize breeding. With the advanced understanding of N-fixation process, researchers are at a juncture of breeding and engineering this symbiotic relationships in cereals. Different breeding, genetic engineering, omics, gene editing, and synthetic biology approaches will be discussed in this review to make BNF a reality in cereals. It will help to provide a road map to develop/improve the BNF in maize to an advance step for the sustainable production system to achieve the food and nutritional security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seema Sheoran
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, PAU Campus, Ludhiana, 1410 04, India
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Regional Station, Phanda, Bhopal, 462 030, India
| | - Pradeep Kumar
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, PAU Campus, Ludhiana, 1410 04, India
| | - Ram Swaroop Meena
- Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India
| | - Sujay Rakshit
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, PAU Campus, Ludhiana, 1410 04, India.
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10
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Hostetler AN, Khangura RS, Dilkes BP, Sparks EE. Bracing for sustainable agriculture: the development and function of brace roots in members of Poaceae. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 59:101985. [PMID: 33418403 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2020.101985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Optimization of crop production requires root systems to function in water uptake, nutrient use, and anchorage. In maize, two types of nodal roots-subterranean crown and aerial brace roots function in anchorage and water uptake and preferentially express multiple water and nutrient transporters. Brace root development shares genetic control with juvenile-to-adult phase change and flowering time. We present a comprehensive list of the genes known to alter brace roots and explore these as candidates for QTL studies in maize and sorghum. Brace root development and function may be conserved in other members of Poaceae, however research is limited. This work highlights the critical knowledge gap of aerial nodal root development and function and suggests new focus areas for breeding resilient crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Hostetler
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19711, United States
| | - Rajdeep S Khangura
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, United States
| | - Brian P Dilkes
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, United States
| | - Erin E Sparks
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19711, United States.
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11
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Bennett AB, Pankievicz VCS, Ané JM. A Model for Nitrogen Fixation in Cereal Crops. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 25:226-235. [PMID: 31954615 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2019.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen-fixing microbial associations with cereals have been of intense interest for more than a century (Roesch et al., Plant Soil 2008;302:91-104; Triplett, Plant Soil 1996;186:29-38; Mus et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2016;82:3698-3710; Beatty and Good, Science 2011;333:416-417). A recent report demonstrated that an indigenous Sierra Mixe maize landrace, characterized by an extensive development of aerial roots that secrete large amounts of mucilage, can acquire 28-82% of its nitrogen from atmospheric dinitrogen (Van Deynze et al., PLoS Biol. 2018;16:e2006352). Although the Sierra Mixe maize landrace is unique in the large quantity of mucilage produced, other cereal crops secrete mucilage from underground and aerial roots and we hypothesize that this may represent a general mechanism for cereals to support associations with microbial diazotrophs. We propose a model for the association of nitrogen-fixing microbes with maize mucilage and identify the four main functionalities for such a productive diazotrophic association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan B Bennett
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | | | - Jean-Michel Ané
- Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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12
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Abstract
Roots provide the primary mechanism that plants use to absorb water and nutrients from their environment. These functions are dependent on developmental mechanisms that direct root growth and branching into regions of soil where these resources are relatively abundant. Water is the most limiting factor for plant growth, and its availability is determined by the weather, soil structure, and salinity. In this review, we define the developmental pathways that regulate the direction of growth and branching pattern of the root system, which together determine the expanse of soil from which a plant can access water. The ability of plants to regulate development in response to the spatial distribution of water is a focus of many recent studies and provides a model for understanding how biological systems utilize positional cues to affect signaling and morphogenesis. A better understanding of these processes will inform approaches to improve crop water use efficiency to more sustainably feed a growing population.
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Affiliation(s)
- José R. Dinneny
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
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13
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14
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Harris-Shultz KR, Hayes CM, Knoll JE. Mapping QTLs and Identification of Genes Associated with Drought Resistance in Sorghum. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1931:11-40. [PMID: 30652280 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9039-9_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Water limits global agricultural production. Increases in global aridity, a growing human population, and the depletion of aquifers will only increase the scarcity of water for agriculture. Water is essential for plant growth and in areas that are prone to drought, the use of drought-resistant crops is a long-term solution for growing more food for more people with less water. Sorghum is well adapted to hot and dry environments and has been used as a dietary staple for millions of people. Increasing the drought resistance in sorghum hybrids with no impact on yield is a continual objective for sorghum breeders. In this review, we describe the loci, quantitative trait loci (QTLs), or genes that have been identified for traits involved in drought avoidance (water-use efficiency, cuticular wax synthesis, trichome development and morphology, root system architecture) and drought tolerance (compatible solutes, pre- and post-flowering drought tolerance). Many of these identified genes and QTL regions have not been tested in hybrids and the effect of these genes, or their interactions, on yield must be understood in normal and drought-stressed conditions to understand the strength and weaknesses of their utility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chad M Hayes
- Plant Stress and Germplasm Development Research, USDA-ARS, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Joseph E Knoll
- Crop Genetics and Breeding Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Tifton, GA, USA
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15
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Pathak RK, Baunthiyal M, Pandey D, Kumar A. Augmentation of crop productivity through interventions of omics technologies in India: challenges and opportunities. 3 Biotech 2018; 8:454. [PMID: 30370195 PMCID: PMC6195494 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-018-1473-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
With the continuous increase in the population of developing countries and decline of natural resources, there is an urgent need to qualitatively and quantitatively augment crop productivity by using new tools and technologies for improvement of agriculturally important traits. The new scientific and technological omics-based approaches have enabled us to deal with several issues and challenges faced by modern agricultural system and provided us novel opportunities for ensuring food and nutritional security. Recent developments in sequencing techniques have made available huge amount of genomic and transcriptomic data on model and cultivated crop plants including Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Triticum aestivum etc. The sequencing data along with other data generated through several omics platforms have significantly influenced the disciplines of crop sciences. Gene discovery and expression profiling-based technologies are offering enormous opportunities to the scientific community which can now apply marker-assisted selection technology to assess and enhance diversity in their collected germplasm, introgress essential traits from new sources and investigate genes that control key traits of crop plants. Utilization of omics science and technologies for crop productivity, protection and management has recently been receiving a lot of attention; the majority of the efforts have been put into signifying the possible applications of various omics technologies in crop plant sciences. This article highlights the background of challenges and opportunities for augmentation of crop productivity through interventions of omics technologies in India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Kumar Pathak
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand 263145 India
- Department of Biotechnology, G. B. Pant Institute of Engineering and Technology, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand 246194 India
| | - Mamta Baunthiyal
- Department of Biotechnology, G. B. Pant Institute of Engineering and Technology, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand 246194 India
| | - Dinesh Pandey
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand 263145 India
| | - Anil Kumar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand 263145 India
- Present Address: Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh 284003 India
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16
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Van Deynze A, Zamora P, Delaux PM, Heitmann C, Jayaraman D, Rajasekar S, Graham D, Maeda J, Gibson D, Schwartz KD, Berry AM, Bhatnagar S, Jospin G, Darling A, Jeannotte R, Lopez J, Weimer BC, Eisen JA, Shapiro HY, Ané JM, Bennett AB. Nitrogen fixation in a landrace of maize is supported by a mucilage-associated diazotrophic microbiota. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2006352. [PMID: 30086128 PMCID: PMC6080747 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants are associated with a complex microbiota that contributes to nutrient acquisition, plant growth, and plant defense. Nitrogen-fixing microbial associations are efficient and well characterized in legumes but are limited in cereals, including maize. We studied an indigenous landrace of maize grown in nitrogen-depleted soils in the Sierra Mixe region of Oaxaca, Mexico. This landrace is characterized by the extensive development of aerial roots that secrete a carbohydrate-rich mucilage. Analysis of the mucilage microbiota indicated that it was enriched in taxa for which many known species are diazotrophic, was enriched for homologs of genes encoding nitrogenase subunits, and harbored active nitrogenase activity as assessed by acetylene reduction and 15N2 incorporation assays. Field experiments in Sierra Mixe using 15N natural abundance or 15N-enrichment assessments over 5 years indicated that atmospheric nitrogen fixation contributed 29%–82% of the nitrogen nutrition of Sierra Mixe maize. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plants, and for many nonlegume crops, the requirement for nitrogen is primarily met by the use of inorganic fertilizers. These fertilizers are produced from fossil fuel by energy-intensive processes that are estimated to use 1% to 2% of the total global energy supply and produce an equivalent share of greenhouse gases. Because maize (Zea mays L.) is a significant recipient of nitrogen fertilization, a research goal for decades has been to identify or engineer mechanisms for biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in association with this crop. We hypothesized that isolated indigenous landraces of maize grown using traditional practices with little or no fertilizer might have evolved strategies to improve plant performance under low-nitrogen nutrient conditions. Here, we show that for one such maize landrace grown in nitrogen-depleted fields near Oaxaca, Mexico, 29%–82% of the plant nitrogen is derived from atmospheric nitrogen. High levels of nitrogen fixation are supported, at least in part, by the abundant production of a sugar-rich mucilage associated with aerial roots that provides a home to a complex nitrogen-fixing microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen Van Deynze
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Pablo Zamora
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Pierre-Marc Delaux
- Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Cristobal Heitmann
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Dhileepkumar Jayaraman
- Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Shanmugam Rajasekar
- Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Danielle Graham
- Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Junko Maeda
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Donald Gibson
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Kevin D. Schwartz
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Alison M. Berry
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Srijak Bhatnagar
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Guillaume Jospin
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Aaron Darling
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Richard Jeannotte
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Javier Lopez
- Instituto Tecnológico del Valle de Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
| | - Bart C. Weimer
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Jonathan A. Eisen
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Howard-Yana Shapiro
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- Mars, Incorporated, McLean, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Jean-Michel Ané
- Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Alan B. Bennett
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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17
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The Primary Root of Sorghum bicolor (L. Moench) as a Model System to Study Brassinosteroid Signaling in Crops. Methods Mol Biol 2017. [PMID: 28124255 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6813-8_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Roots anchor plants to the soil and are essential for a successful plant growth and adaptation to the environment. Research on the primary root in the plant model system Arabidopsis thaliana has yielded important advances in the molecular and cellular understanding of root growth and development. Several studies have uncovered how the hormones brassinosteroids (BRs) control cell cycle and differentiation programs through different cell-specific signaling pathways that are key for root growth and development. Currently, an important challenge resides in the translation of the current knowledge on Arabidopsis roots into agronomically valuable species to improve the agricultural production and to meet the food security goals of the millennium. In this chapter, we characterize the primary root apex of the cereal Sorghum bicolor (L. Moench) (sorghum), analyze the physiological response of sorghum roots to BRs, and examine the phylogeny of the BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1-like receptor family in Arabidopsis and its orthologous genes in sorghum. Overall, we support the use of sorghum as a suitable crop model species for the study of BR signaling in root growth and development. The methods presented enable any laboratory worldwide to use sorghum primary roots as a favorite organ for the study of growth and development in crops.
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18
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Robinson H, Hickey L, Richard C, Mace E, Kelly A, Borrell A, Franckowiak J, Fox G. Genomic Regions Influencing Seminal Root Traits in Barley. THE PLANT GENOME 2016; 9. [PMID: 27898766 DOI: 10.3835/plantgenome2015.03.0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Water availability is a major limiting factor for crop production, making drought adaptation and its many component traits a desirable attribute of plant cultivars. Previous studies in cereal crops indicate that root traits expressed at early plant developmental stages, such as seminal root angle and root number, are associated with water extraction at different depths. Here, we conducted the first study to map seminal root traits in barley ( L.). Using a recently developed high-throughput phenotyping method, a panel of 30 barley genotypes and a doubled-haploid (DH) population (ND24260 × 'Flagship') comprising 330 lines genotyped with diversity array technology (DArT) markers were evaluated for seminal root angle (deviation from vertical) and root number under controlled environmental conditions. A high degree of phenotypic variation was observed in the panel of 30 genotypes: 13.5 to 82.2 and 3.6 to 6.9° for root angle and root number, respectively. A similar range was observed in the DH population: 16.4 to 70.5 and 3.6 to 6.5° for root angle and number, respectively. Seven quantitative trait loci (QTL) for seminal root traits (root angle, two QTL; root number, five QTL) were detected in the DH population. A major QTL influencing both root angle and root number (/) was positioned on chromosome 5HL. Across-species analysis identified 10 common genes underlying root trait QTL in barley, wheat ( L.), and sorghum [ (L.) Moench]. Here, we provide insight into seminal root phenotypes and provide a first look at the genetics controlling these traits in barley.
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Anami SE, Zhang L, Xia Y, Zhang Y, Liu Z, Jing H. Sweet sorghum ideotypes: genetic improvement of the biofuel syndrome. Food Energy Secur 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/fes3.63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sylvester Elikana Anami
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100093 China
- Institute of Biotechnology Research Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Nairobi Kenya
| | - Li‐Min Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100093 China
| | - Yan Xia
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100093 China
| | - Yu‐Miao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100093 China
| | - Zhi‐Quan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100093 China
| | - Hai‐Chun Jing
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100093 China
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20
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Rogers ED, Benfey PN. Regulation of plant root system architecture: implications for crop advancement. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2014; 32:93-98. [PMID: 25448235 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2014.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 11/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Root system architecture (RSA) plays a major role in plant fitness, crop performance, and grain yield yet only recently has this role been appreciated. RSA describes the spatial arrangement of root tissue within the soil and is therefore crucial to nutrient and water uptake. Recent studies have identified many of the genetic and environmental factors influencing root growth that contribute to RSA. Some of the identified genes have the potential to limit crop loss caused by environmental extremes and are currently being used to confer drought tolerance. It is hypothesized that manipulating these and other genes that influence RSA will be pivotal for future crop advancements worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Rogers
- Department of Biology and Duke Center for Systems Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Philip N Benfey
- Department of Biology and Duke Center for Systems Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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