JPSS Seminar: Natural variation in nutrient homeostasis

Understanding the control of mineral nutrient homeostasis is a key pre-requisite of attempts towards reducing the dependence of crop yields on high levels of fertilizer. Among the most promising approaches is the exploitation of natural variation. We have used QTL analysis to find loci responsible for variation in sulfate content in Arabidopsis Bay-0 x Shahdara population. Two of the underlying genes encode isoforms of consecutive enzymes in sulfate assimilation pathway ATP sulfurylase and APS reductase. The APR2 isoform of APS reductase has been independently found to be responsible for high accumulation of total sulfur and sulfate in several other Arabidopsis accessions. Genome wide association mapping of anion contents in Arabidopsis and in Brassica napus revealed number of other candidate genes potentially responsible for control of nutrient homeostasis. The power and the pitfalls of this genetic approach will be discussed.
 

Jülich Plant Science Seminar (JPSS)
Speaker: Prof. Stanislav Kopriva, Botanical Institute, University of Cologne
Place: FZ Jülich, IBG-2, R406 (large seminar room)
Date and Time: July 18th, 10:30 am