Transcriptional profile of maize roots under acid soil growth

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aluminum (Al) toxicity is one of the most important yield-limiting factors of many crops worldwide. The primary symptom of Al toxicity syndrome is the inhibition of root growth leading to poor water and nutrient absorption. Al tolera...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mattiello Lucia, Kirst Matias, da Silva Felipe R, Jorge Renato A, Menossi Marcelo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2010-09-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2229/10/196
_version_ 1811278517156970496
author Mattiello Lucia
Kirst Matias
da Silva Felipe R
Jorge Renato A
Menossi Marcelo
author_facet Mattiello Lucia
Kirst Matias
da Silva Felipe R
Jorge Renato A
Menossi Marcelo
author_sort Mattiello Lucia
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aluminum (Al) toxicity is one of the most important yield-limiting factors of many crops worldwide. The primary symptom of Al toxicity syndrome is the inhibition of root growth leading to poor water and nutrient absorption. Al tolerance has been extensively studied using hydroponic experiments. However, unlike soil conditions, this method does not address all of the components that are necessary for proper root growth and development. In the present study, we grew two maize genotypes with contrasting tolerance to Al in soil containing toxic levels of Al and then compared their transcriptomic responses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>When grown in acid soil containing toxic levels of Al, the Al-sensitive genotype (S1587-17) showed greater root growth inhibition, more Al accumulation and more callose deposition in root tips than did the tolerant genotype (Cat100-6). Transcriptome profiling showed a higher number of genes differentially expressed in S1587-17 grown in acid soil, probably due to secondary effects of Al toxicity. Genes involved in the biosynthesis of organic acids, which are frequently associated with an Al tolerance response, were not differentially regulated in both genotypes after acid soil exposure. However, genes related to the biosynthesis of auxin, ethylene and lignin were up-regulated in the Al-sensitive genotype, indicating that these pathways might be associated with root growth inhibition. By comparing the two maize lines, we were able to discover genes up-regulated only in the Al-tolerant line that also presented higher absolute levels than those observed in the Al-sensitive line. These genes encoded a lipase hydrolase, a retinol dehydrogenase, a glycine-rich protein, a member of the WRKY transcriptional family and two unknown proteins.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This work provides the first characterization of the physiological and transcriptional responses of maize roots when grown in acid soil containing toxic levels of Al. The transcriptome profiles highlighted several pathways that are related to Al toxicity and tolerance during growth in acid soil. We found several genes that were not found in previous studies using hydroponic experiments, increasing our understanding of plant responses to acid soil. The use of two germplasms with markedly different Al tolerances allowed the identification of genes that are a valuable tool for assessing the mechanisms of Al tolerance in maize in acid soil.</p>
first_indexed 2024-04-13T00:37:15Z
format Article
id doaj.art-f2bdb31d1cfa493bae90f047e534fdd0
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1471-2229
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T00:37:15Z
publishDate 2010-09-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Plant Biology
spelling doaj.art-f2bdb31d1cfa493bae90f047e534fdd02022-12-22T03:10:18ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292010-09-0110119610.1186/1471-2229-10-196Transcriptional profile of maize roots under acid soil growthMattiello LuciaKirst Matiasda Silva Felipe RJorge Renato AMenossi Marcelo<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aluminum (Al) toxicity is one of the most important yield-limiting factors of many crops worldwide. The primary symptom of Al toxicity syndrome is the inhibition of root growth leading to poor water and nutrient absorption. Al tolerance has been extensively studied using hydroponic experiments. However, unlike soil conditions, this method does not address all of the components that are necessary for proper root growth and development. In the present study, we grew two maize genotypes with contrasting tolerance to Al in soil containing toxic levels of Al and then compared their transcriptomic responses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>When grown in acid soil containing toxic levels of Al, the Al-sensitive genotype (S1587-17) showed greater root growth inhibition, more Al accumulation and more callose deposition in root tips than did the tolerant genotype (Cat100-6). Transcriptome profiling showed a higher number of genes differentially expressed in S1587-17 grown in acid soil, probably due to secondary effects of Al toxicity. Genes involved in the biosynthesis of organic acids, which are frequently associated with an Al tolerance response, were not differentially regulated in both genotypes after acid soil exposure. However, genes related to the biosynthesis of auxin, ethylene and lignin were up-regulated in the Al-sensitive genotype, indicating that these pathways might be associated with root growth inhibition. By comparing the two maize lines, we were able to discover genes up-regulated only in the Al-tolerant line that also presented higher absolute levels than those observed in the Al-sensitive line. These genes encoded a lipase hydrolase, a retinol dehydrogenase, a glycine-rich protein, a member of the WRKY transcriptional family and two unknown proteins.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This work provides the first characterization of the physiological and transcriptional responses of maize roots when grown in acid soil containing toxic levels of Al. The transcriptome profiles highlighted several pathways that are related to Al toxicity and tolerance during growth in acid soil. We found several genes that were not found in previous studies using hydroponic experiments, increasing our understanding of plant responses to acid soil. The use of two germplasms with markedly different Al tolerances allowed the identification of genes that are a valuable tool for assessing the mechanisms of Al tolerance in maize in acid soil.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2229/10/196
spellingShingle Mattiello Lucia
Kirst Matias
da Silva Felipe R
Jorge Renato A
Menossi Marcelo
Transcriptional profile of maize roots under acid soil growth
BMC Plant Biology
title Transcriptional profile of maize roots under acid soil growth
title_full Transcriptional profile of maize roots under acid soil growth
title_fullStr Transcriptional profile of maize roots under acid soil growth
title_full_unstemmed Transcriptional profile of maize roots under acid soil growth
title_short Transcriptional profile of maize roots under acid soil growth
title_sort transcriptional profile of maize roots under acid soil growth
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2229/10/196
work_keys_str_mv AT mattiellolucia transcriptionalprofileofmaizerootsunderacidsoilgrowth
AT kirstmatias transcriptionalprofileofmaizerootsunderacidsoilgrowth
AT dasilvafeliper transcriptionalprofileofmaizerootsunderacidsoilgrowth
AT jorgerenatoa transcriptionalprofileofmaizerootsunderacidsoilgrowth
AT menossimarcelo transcriptionalprofileofmaizerootsunderacidsoilgrowth