The role of PLD1 in iron dependent root growth regulation

Iron (Fe) is an essential element for all organisms. Almost all Fe that is available to animals, including humans, is ultimately derived from plants. Consequently, the ability of plants to acquire Fe, especially under Fe-limited conditions is of high practical relevance. While several important regulatory components for Fe homeostasis and Fe deficiency response have been identified, little is known about the underlying genetic mechanisms that coordinate plant growth with Fe availability. Using a genomic wide association (GWA) mapping approach, the host laboratory has identified phospholipase D zeta1 (PLD<U+03B6>1) to be a primary candidate gene for underlying natural variation of root growth during Fe deficiency in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Interestingly, PLD<U+03B6>1 is known to be involved in root growth responses upon phosphate deficiency (-P), suggesting that biologically relevant crosstalk between -P and Fe might be integrated at the level of PLD<U+03B6>1 function. In this project, we will characterize the regulation of PLD<U+03B6>1 in root growth during Fe deficiency. The proposed research includes the confirmation of the role PLD<U+03B6>1 in Fe deficiency responsive root growth, the analysis of the underlying molecular and biochemical regulation processes, as well as the identification and characterization of the causal PLD<U+03B6>1 alleles in this context. Furthermore, the potential integration of -Fe and - P response pathways through PLD<U+03B6>1 will be investigated. Overall, this study is expected to identify both, qualitative and quantitative genetic mechanisms of how plants adjust and adapt to nutritional deficiency stress, and will provide excellent starting points for developing crop species with improved tolerance to nutritional deficiencies, enhanced yields and mineral nutrition under limited growth conditions.

No additional funding sources recorded.