Award details

201d: Molecular and genetic regulation of adventitious rooting

Reference	BBS/E/H/00030029
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Neil Hammatt
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Richard Napier
Institution	University of Warwick
Department	Warwick HRI
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	405,901
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	31/03/2000
Duration	36 months

Abstract

The inability to induce roots on cuttings of selected woody plants restricts the exploitation of novel or superior genotypes in the forestry, fruit and hardy nursery stock industries. The role of auxin and oxidative stress in root induction and the response of competent cells to an inductive stimulus will be examined. EMS- and T-DNA-mutagenised populations of Arabidopsis will be screened to identify andcharacterise mutants of auxin-induced adventitious root formation. Auxin-response mutants and auxin - inducible reporter genes will be used to determine which aspects of auxin signalling are necessary for rooting and how they interact. Transformation and regeneration methods will be developed for wild cherry as a model woody species in which to study the action of genes involved in maturation and adventitious root formation. This work is relevant to the priority programme of the BBSRC Agricultural Systems Directorate in developing enabling technologies for crop improvement. It is also relevant to aspects of the Plant & Microbial Sciences research committee theme on growth and development of organisms and control of gene expression. In addition, forest products were identified as a priority area in the OST Technology Foresight exercise. The project will increase our understanding of the molecular and biochemical basis of auxin-induced rooting. New information will be obtained on the role of auxin and interactions between auxin signalling, oxidative stress and wounding. The development of transformation and regeneration systems for an economically important tree species will allow the action of genes involved in adventitious rooting to be investigated and manipulated in a woody plant. It will also provide enabling technologies for other aspects of tree improvement. The results will be communicated through refereed papers in scientific journals, contributions to conferences and industry technical meetings. Adventitious rooting is one of the most commercially important characteristics influenced by the juvenile/mature phase change in woody perennials. The inability to induce roots on cuttings of selected mature individuals restricts the exploitation of superior or novel genotypes in the forestry, hardy nursery stock and top fruit industries. An improved understanding of the mechanism and developmental control of adventitious root formation should lead to practical methods for improved rooting of woody plants. This would have several commercial benefits: lower production costs; physiologically improved planting stock; a wider range of species, cultivars and clones available to the industry.

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