Award details

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

Reference	BBS/E/C/00004723
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr W Whalley
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Lawrence Clark
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	59,798
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/01/2005
End date	29/02/2008
Duration	38 months

Abstract

The overall goal is to integrate biophysical, genetic and molecular understanding of root penetration, using rice as a model. We wish to understand how regions of the genome control root penetration ability, including the discovery of which genes are responsible. 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. 2. Develop a mathematical model to identify the components of root-soil interaction that confer good root penetration ability. 3. Identify and characterise QTLs for these components in the Bala x Azucena mapping population and near isogenic lines derived from them. 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. 6. For a logical subset of potential positional candidate genes, assess allelic diversity in the parents of mapping populations in which the QTL has been detected. Our previous work has led to the identification of QTL for root penetration in rice. However, at a physiological level, we not know how these QTL work, although one hypothesis is that they control bending stiffness and hence the tendency of roots to buckle when they encounter a strong layer. We will bring insights from treating root penetration like an engineering problem to ensure that we can account for the physics of root penetration. In this collaborative project, RRes is primarily responsible for measuring and modelling the biophysics of root encounters with strong layers, including appropriate phenotyping of the mapping population and near isogenic lines. Aberdeen are responsible for following changes in gene expression as roots encounter impedance and for identifying specific genes underlying QTL.

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

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search