BioProject

Root foraging strategy of wheat for potassium (K) heterogeneity is based on special gene expressions. More...

Root foraging strategy of wheat for potassium (K) heterogeneity is based on special gene expressions. Low-K responsive genes, such as peroxidases, mitochondrion, transcription factor activity, calcium ion binding and respiration, up-regulated in Sp. NK rather than in Sp. LK. Methyltransferase activity, protein amino acid phosphorylation, potassium ion transport, protein kinase activity genes were found among down-regulated genes in Sp. LK. We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression underlying wheat root foraging strategy and identified distinct classes of up-regulated and down-regulated genes during this process. Overall design: Based on the split-root system, wheat roots under K heterogeneity and homogeneity conditions were selected for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays. In order to simulate soil K heterogeneity environment, we used split-root system as test equipment of the present research. Two separated physical spaces, in which different K supply could be performed, were created in this split-root system. Three different K environments were performed as follows: (1) a homogeneous K-deprived condition (C. LK: both compartments had low K), (2) a homogeneous K-replete condition (C. NK: both compartments had normal K), and (3) a heterogeneous split condition (Sp. LK/Sp. NK: one compartment had low K, and the other had normal K). Less...