Identification of Loci Regulating Root Architecture in Tomato

根至关重要，因为它将植物固定在土壤中，并吸收和运输水分，养分和溶质到地上部。尽管它的重要性，问题仍然是如何控制根结构，特别是在重要作物。哪些基因和途径调节根的结构、细胞的形成和增殖？这些基因和途径在表现出根构型自然变异的植物中有何不同？在从野生物种驯化作物的过程中，选择了哪些根构型基因？野生番茄的近缘种，茄属植物的根构型由于其耐旱和耐盐性而引起人们的特别兴趣。本项目将利用野生大豆与野生大豆杂交获得的品系，鉴定调控根发育的重要基因。pennellii和驯化番茄（S. lycopersicum）。每个品系都有来自S. pennellii可能有助于其根结构。根发育的形态学和细胞学测量，沿着描述基因表达差异的分子基因组数据将被收集用于该群体。使用这些数据和统计和计算方法，数量性状基因座（QTL）和表达QTL（eQTL），有助于根构型的差异将被确定。进一步的工作将定义基因调控相互作用，生物过程，以及祖先的调控途径，以及确定候选的因果基因控制根发育的变化。该项目的一个重要目标是以跨学科的方式培训所有团队成员，将定量生物学与植物发育相关的细胞生物学联系起来。对于许多人来说，番茄是日常膳食的主要组成部分，它是矿物质，维生素和抗氧化剂的重要来源。该项目将确定影响根系结构的基因，以及这种重要作物的潜在抗旱性和抗虫性。其结果将影响我们对与根发育、物种形成和进化相关的基因和调控途径的基本理解。

The root is of vital importance because it anchors plants to the soil and it absorbs and transports water, nutrients and solutes to the shoot. Despite its importance, questions remain about how root architecture is controlled, particularly in important crops. Which genes and pathways regulate root architecture, cell patterning and proliferation? How are these genes and pathways different in plants that display natural variation in root architecture? Which root architecture genes were selected during domestication of crops from wild species? Root architecture in the wild tomato relative, Solanum pennellii is of special interest, due to its drought and salinity tolerance. This project will identify important genes regulating root development using lines derived from a cross between wild S. pennellii and domesticated tomato (S. lycopersicum). Each line has different genes from S. pennellii that may contribute to its root architecture. Morphological and cellular measures of root development, along with molecular genomic data describing gene expression differences will be collected for this population. Using these data and statistical and computational methods quantitative trait loci (QTL) and expression QTL (eQTL) that contribute to differences in root architecture will be identified. Further work will define gene regulatory interactions, biological processes, and ancestral regulatory pathways as well as identify candidate causal genes controlling variation in root development. A significant goal of this project is to train all team members in an interdisciplinary manner linking quantitative biology to the cell biology associated with plant development. For many, tomato is a major component of the daily meal and it constitutes an important source of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. This project will identify genes influencing root architecture, and potentially drought resistance and insect tolerance in this important crop. The outcome will influence our basic understanding of genes and regulatory pathways associated with root development, speciation and evolution.