Diane Jofuku Okamuro
IOS Division of Integrative Organismal Systems
BIO Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:
September 1, 2002
Expires:
August 31, 2007 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:
$4840829
Investigator(s):
Henry Nguyen NguyenHenry@missouri.edu (Principal Investigator)
Hans Bohnert (Co-Principal Investigator) Robert Sharp (Co-Principal Investigator) Gordon Springer (Co-Principal Investigator) Georgia Davis (Co-Principal Investigator) Daniel Schachtman (Co-Principal Investigator)
Julia Gross (Former Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:
University of Missouri-Columbia
310 JESSE HALL
COLUMBIA, MO 65211 573/882-7560
NSF Program(s):
PLANT GENOME RESEARCH PROJECT
Field Application(s):
Program Reference Code(s):
BIOT, 9184, 9109, 7218, 1228
Program Element Code(s):
1329
ABSTRACT
Henry T. Nguyen NguyenHenry@missouri.edu (Principal Investigator current)
Julia Gross (Co-Principal Investigator current)
Hans J. Bohnert (Co-Principal Investigator current)
Robert E. Sharp (Co-Principal Investigator current)
Gordon K. Springer (Co-Principal Investigator current)
Daniel P. Schachtman (Co-Principal Investigator current) Georgia Davis (Co-Principal Investigator current)
The roots of plants play vital roles in water and mineral acquisition which are essential for plant growth and development. Under conditions of drought, roots can adapt to continue growth while at the same time producing and sending "early warning" signals to shoots which inhibit the plant growth above ground. A "Plant Root Genomics Consortium" has been formed and is dedicated to root genetics and physiology.
The broad aim is to develop an understanding of the molecular mechanisms used by plant roots to acquire water and minerals from the soil, to elucidate the role roots play in adaptation to drought conditions, and to transfer this knowledge to crop improvement through biotechnology. This project focuses mechanisms of root growth maintenance and root to shoot signaling under water deficits. The research approach is interdisciplinary encompassing whole plant physiology, genetics, genomics, and proteomics.
The specific aims are to identify the genes and biochemical networks: controlling the mechanisms of root growth and root to shoot communication under drought through four specific objectives:
(1) Characterization of the transcript profiles in elongating and non-elongating regions of roots under water deficit in sensitive and tolerant maize lines, an abscisic acid (ABA)-deficient mutant and near-isogenic lines differing in ABA accumulation. (2) Characterization of the changes in protein profiles, especially cell wall proteins, in the different root regions to identify factors associated with root growth maintenance and tolerance to water deficit. (3) Investigation of the production and transport of root signals to provide a better understanding of root to shoot signaling under drought. (4) Development of genetic and genomic resources for further investigations of root growth and signaling in the field.
This knowledge will lead to novel approaches for improving drought tolerance in maize through genetic and metabolic engineering of root functions. All materials will be made publicly available. A Plant Root Genomics Web site will be maintained and integrated with the maize genome database (MaizeDB) at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
Alvarez S, Goodger JQD, Marsh EL, Chen S, Asirvatham VS, Schachtman DP. "Characterization of maize xylem sap proteome," Journal of Proteome Research, v.5, 2006, p. 963.
Bohnert, HJ; Gong, QQ; Li, PH; Ma, SS. "Unraveling abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms - getting genomics going," CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY, v.9, 2006, p. 180-188.
Poroyko V, Spollen WG, Hejlek LG, Hernandez AG, LeNoble ME, Davis G, Nguyen HT, Springer G, Sharp RE, Bohnert HJ. "Comparing regional transcript profiles from well-watered and water-stressed maize primary roots," Journal of Experimental Botany, v.58, 2007, p. 278.
Poroyko, V; Spollen, WG; Hejlek, LG; Hernandez, AG; LeNoble, ME; Davis, G; Nguyen, HT; Springer, GK; Sharp, RE; Bohnert, HJ. "Comparing regional transcript profiles from maize primary roots under well-watered and low water potential conditions," JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, v.58, 2007, p. 279-289.
Talame, V; Ozturk, NZ; Bohnert, HJ; Tuberosa, R. "Barley transcript profiles under dehydration shock and drought stress treatments: a comparative analysis," JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, v.58, 2007, p. 229-240.
Zhu J, Chen S, Alvarez S, Asirvatham VS, Schachtman DP, Wu Y, Sharp RE. "Cell wall proteome in the maize primary root elongation zone: Extraction and identification of water soluble and lightly ionically-bound proteins," Plant Physiology, v.140, 2006, p. 311.
Zhu, JM; Chen, SX; Alvarez, S; Asirvatham, VS; Schachtman, DP; Wu, YJ; Sharp, RE. "Cell wall proteome in the maize primary root elongation zone. I. Extraction and identification of water-soluble and lightly ionically bound proteins," PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, v.140, 2006, p. 311-325.
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