Integration of responses within and across Arabidopsis natural accessions uncovers loci controlling root systems architecture

Abstract

Significance Species display a range of plastic phenotypes that presumably have evolved as a result of adaptation to heterogeneous environments. We asked whether the genetic mechanisms that underlie adaptation across populations also determine the response of an individual plant to environmental cues in Arabidopsis . Using an integrative root phenotyping approach, genes that underlie natural variation in root architecture across populations were shown to control plasticity responses within an individual. Together, our results uncover a genetic mechanism underlying the phenotypic plasticity of an individual and phenotypic diversity across natural variants.

Leaf Growth Response to Mild Drought: Natural Variation in Arabidopsis Sheds Light on Trait Architecture

“…At the same time, automated phenotyping platforms have been developed Skirycz et al, 2011b;Dhondt et al, 2013;Tisné et al, 2013;Wuyts et al, 2015;Flood et al, 2016), allowing for precise and highthroughput measurements of plant growth. These developments enhance our ability to map causal genetic polymorphisms through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), an approach that has been applied successfully to many different traits, ranging from genetically simple traits, such as biotic stress resistance (HuardChauveau et al, 2013), to more complex features, such as root system architecture and rosette growth (Rosas et al, 2013;Meijón et al, 2014;Bac-Molenaar et al, 2015).…”

Phosphate-dependent root system architecture responses to salt stress

“…Exploring natural variation has contributed to the identification of quantitative trait loci controlling RSA development under control and abiotic stress conditions (Mouchel et al, 2004;Rosas et al, 2013;Meijón et al, 2014;Slovak et al, 2014). Root growth under potassium, iron, or phosphate starvation has been linked to allelic polymorphisms (Reymond et al, 2006;Pineau et al, 2012;Kellermeier et al, 2013), whereas salt-induced changes in RSA have partially been explained by differences in the sensitivity to ABA within Arabidopsis accessions (Julkowska et al, 2014).…”

Hope in Change: The Role of Root Plasticity in Crop Yield Stability

“…However, plastic phenotypes can be difficult to measure, especially when combined with the challenges inherent to the study of subterranean processes. Thus, despite much interesting work on the quantification of root architecture plasticity and its genetic control in vitro (Svistoonoff et al, 2007;Gifford et al, 2013;Rosas et al, 2013), the actionable outcomes to plant breeding are limited (Wissuwa et al, 2016).…”