高粱Dry基因调控的下游基因的挖掘和功能分析

甜高粱是一种重要的能源作物，其茎秆富含汁液和糖分。在前期工作中我们鉴定到了控制高粱茎秆持汁性的Dry基因，其功能的丧失是甜高粱茎秆富含汁液的主要原因。Dry基因编码植物特异的NAC转录因子，但是对于其如何调控高粱茎秆中的水分含量并不清楚。本研究将在前期研究基础上，综合运用转录组测序、茎秆含水量全基因组关联分析、MutMap和CHIP-seq等方法挖掘Dry基因调控的下游基因。同时，对于得到的重要候选基因，将安排相应的分子生物学实验、细胞学实验和生理实验分析其功能。本研究的结果将阐明高粱茎秆中水分的储存转运机制，进而为精准调控高粱茎秆中的水分含量提供必要的分子模块，从而促进甜高粱在生物乙醇、青贮饲料等产业中的应用，同时也为改良其它作物茎秆提供重要的参考价值。

The stem of sweet sorghum accumulates high amounts of juice and directly fermentable sugars at maturity, which makes it a vitally important crop for bioenergy. In our previous work, we have identified the Dry gene that controls the stem juiciness and demonstrated that the loss-of-function of Dry results in juice-rich sorghum stem. The Dry gene encodes a plant-specific NAC transcription factor, however, the knowledge on how Dry gene acts to control stem juiciness is still limited. The aim of this study is to combine the RNA-seq, genome wide association studies of stem water content, MutMap analysis and CHIP-seq to reveal the downstream genes regulated by Dry. For the key genes obtained in the regulatory network, a range of molecular, cellular and physiological experiments will be conducted to dissect their molecular and cellular mode of action. This project is an essential step forward to explain the regulation of water retention and transportation in stem / shoot. The outcome of this project will not only provide the important molecular modules for fine-tuning stem water content and further promote the application of sorghum in bioethanol and silage production, but also provide important clues for improving stem texture in other major cereals.