Mechanisms of root system adaptation to hypoxic stress in Arabidopsis
Final Report Abstract
Oxygen limitation (hypoxia), arising as a key stress factor due to flooding, negatively affects plant development. As roots are the first organs to confront hypoxia, the ability to sense and respond to hypoxic stress is crucial. AP2/ERF transcription factors of the subgroup VII (ERFVII), including RAP2.2, RAP2.3, RAP2.12, HRE1, and HRE2, have emerged not only as key regulators of the metabolic low oxygen response but as developmental regulators of primary root bending during hypoxia. Particularly, RAP2.12 plays a significant role in regulating root bending through the posttranslational regulation of PIN2 (auxin efflux carrier), contributing to the establishment of auxin asymmetry in the root apex. Natural variation present in Arabidopsis thaliana offers significant potential for identifying adaptive traits. This study aimed to expand our understanding of whether altered root bending is an ability of Arabidopsis to acclimate or adapt to its environment. Analysing 27 Arabidopsis accessions, we observed significant variation in root bending across the populations. Furthermore, this variation in root bending negatively correlated with the survival rates of the Arabidopsis accessions. With decreasing oxygen availability, the intolerant accessions exhibited increased sensitivity regarding root bending. To assess to what extent the underlying genetic variation defines the morphological variation, we identified several target genes of RAP2.12 involved in PIN2- mediated root growth and analysed the association of these target genes with the tolerant and intolerant Arabidopsis ecotypes. Taken together, we demonstrate how natural variation is a valuable resource in Arabidopsis for examining root traits in response to hypoxia.
Publications
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Hypoxia reshapes Arabidopsis root architecture by integrating ERF‐VII factor response and abscisic acid homoeostasis. Plant, Cell & Environment, 47(8), 2879-2894.
Eysholdt‐Derzsó, Emese; Hause, Bettina; Sauter, Margret & Schmidt‐Schippers, Romy R.
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Perception and processing of stress signals by plant mitochondria. The Plant Journal, 120(6), 2337-2355.
Selinski, Jennifer; Frings, Stephanie & Schmidt‐Schippers, Romy
