Award details

What makes rice roots able to penetrate hard layers? An integrated biophysical modelling genetic and molecular approach

Reference	BB/C507837/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr W Whalley
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Mr David Bruce, Dr Lawrence Clark
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	154,586
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/01/2005
End date	29/02/2008
Duration	38 months

Abstract

Deep rooting improves drought resistance but this can be limited by strong soil resulting from compaction or drying. There are known to be varietal differences in root penetration ability in several crop species, including rice, the genetic model cereal. In rice, QTLs for the ability to penetrate hard wax layers have been identified, and some of these have been shown to function in the field to improve rooting at depth. Yet we do not know which genes are responsible nor how they enable penetration at the physiological level. This project aims to address these questions with the overall goal of integrating biophysical, genetic and molecular understanding of root penetration. Specific objectives are to: (1) Observe the physical behaviour and changes in gene expression of roots as they approach and attempt to penetrate a strong layer and (2) develop a mathematical model to identify the components of root-soil interaction that confer good root penetration ability. This will allow us to (3) identify and characterise QTLs for these components in the Bala x Azucena mapping population and near isogenic lines derived from them. We then wish to move from identifying QTLs controlling the biophysical basis for root penetration to identifying the underlying genes, exploiting availability of the whole genome annotated sequence of rice, expression data on the web and gene array technology. We will (4) identify genes within 5 cM of three-four QTLs for root penetration, thickness and/or component traits by exploiting map-based rice genome sequence, (5) use the output of objective 1, EST databases and RT-PCR to provide evidence of gene expression in impeded roots of genes within 5 cM of QTL and (6) for a logical subset of potential positional candidate genes, assess alleic diversity in the parents of mapping populations in which the QTL has been detected. The integrated use of these approaches within the framework of a multidisciplinary team offers the opportunity to greatly advanceour understanding and future manipulation of root penetration ability. (Joint with BB/C509931/1).

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

Associated awards:

BB/C509931/1 What makes rice roots able to penetrate hard layers? An integrated biophysical modelling genetic and molecular approach

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