Physiological and Genetic Characterization of Salt Tolerant Mutants in Ceratopteris

该项目使用蕨类植物Ceratopteris作为实验植物系统，为此类研究提供了几个优点，包括：来自相同盐敏感野生型基因的各种确认突变体，快速表征各种突变体的遗传基础的能力，精确确定对胁迫的定量反应的能力，以及有效地对生活周期中简单的单倍体配子体和发育复杂的维管孢子体阶段进行生理和遗传学研究的能力。初步研究表明，虽然单个基因对耐受性的影响可能不大，但特定的组合表现出协同效应，导致高水平的耐受性。与自然耐盐性相关的生理和遗传复杂性很可能是基于相似的基因交互作用。所描述的突变体的可用性和这种植物系统的优势为研究植物耐盐性的基本方面提供了一个独特的机会。发展对盐分和其他渗透胁迫具有更强耐受性的作物是解决全球农业用地盐分过剩问题的一个重要目标。然而，耐盐性的复杂基础还没有完全被理解。需要进行基础的遗传学和生理学研究。

This project uses the fern Ceratopteris as an experimental plant system that provides several advantages for such studies, including: a variety of confirmed mutants derived from the same salt sensitive wild type genotype, the ability to rapidly characterize the genetic basis of the various mutants, the ability to precisely determine quantitative responses to stress, and the ability to efficiently carry out physiological and genetic studies on both a simple haploid gametophyte and a developmentally complex vascular sporophyte phase of the life cycle. Initial studies show that while the effects of single genes on tolerance may be modest, specific combinations exhibit synergistic effects, resulting in high levels of tolerance. The physiological and genetic complexity associated with natural salt tolerance is most likely based upon similar gene interactions. The availability of the described mutants and the advantages of this plant system provide a unique opportunity to study fundamental aspects of salt tolerance in plants. %%% The development of crops with enhanced tolerance to salt and other osmotic stresses is an important objective in dealing with the worldwide problem of excess salinity on agricultural land. However, the complex basis of salt tolerance is incompletely understood. Fundamental genetic and physiological studies are needed.