Genetic approaches in plant physiology

Abstract

SUMMARYThe use of genetics in plant biology aims at the physiological and molecular genetical characterization of the phenotypic variation for the trait under study. Efficient mutant and gene isolation procedures have been developed for a number of plant models such as Arabidopsis thaliana. For this, the map position of the genes and insertion mutagenesis are used. The latter also allows the characterization of genes that are not easily recognized in mutant approaches, by using enhancer or gene-trapping procedures and reverse genetics. In addition to mutants, natural variation present among wild and cultivated varieties of a species provides an important source of genetic variation. The use of molecular markers, advanced mapping populations and specific cytogenetic stocks in case of polyploids, enables a detailed characterization of such natural variation even when it is of a quantitative and polygenic nature. Examples of the various genetic approaches are given.

Markers and mapping: we are all geneticists now

“…Experimentally induced mutations in model species such as Arabidopsis have been valuable in mapping such genes. If a screening procedure for a particular non-lethal physiological aberration can be devised, it is usually possible to find individuals displaying the corresponding phenotype in a population derived from mutagenised parents, and to place the mutant locus on the molecular linkage map (Koornneef, Alonso-Blanco & Peeters, 1997). This approach has successfully cracked the problem of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying some of the most recalcitrant aspects of plant form and function, such as floral development or hormone action (Weigel, 1995).…”

Evaluation Acreage, Production and Yield on Barley by Krigging Method in Turkey

“…Maps of yield and its error on barley in Turkey Çanakkale, Ankara, Isparta, and Sakarya provinces. Koornneef et al (1997) warned that barley, as having economic importance is under danger of drought effect and low water input is main cause for crop yield decrease. It was conclude that climate topography and geography have about 60-80% rate on variability of acreage, production and yield in barley (Chmielewski and Kohn, 1999;Bielek, 2001;Spanik and Siska, 2004;Spanik, 2008).…”

“…Especially drought, like other stress conditions, causes barley yield reductions affecting the majority of the farmed regions around the world. (Koornneef et al, 1997;Kovacevic et al, 2005;.Paunovic et al, 2008) Malekiani and Jafarzadeh (2011) stated the importance of climatic changes in crop spectrum in Iran. Most areas in Iran are surrounded arid/semiarid climate with an average annual precipitation of about 250 mm where cereal production depends largely on climate, soil, and topography.…”

Estudo de variações genéticas naturais de Solanum galapagense possivelmente relacionadas com alterações no hormônio giberelina

“…Além disso, o processo de seleção natural pode gerar genótipos adaptados a ambientes específicos. Esta adaptação, provavelmente reflete variações em traços ecológicos e fisiológicos, embora a morfologia também possa diferir muitas vezes dentro da própria espécie, o que é evidente em coleções de plantas cultivadas (KOORNNEEF et al, 1997).…”