Arabidopsis 2010: Collaborative Research: RUI: Physiological and Genetical Genomics of Drought Adaptation and Acclimation Networks

干旱胁迫普遍存在，是植物生长发育和生理进化过程中重要的选择因子。干旱胁迫也是全球作物生产力的一个主要限制因素。许多植物的抗旱能力在不同的遗传系之间存在差异，这种差异为探索基因功能提供了独特的资源。这个2010年的项目将利用全基因组分子技术和来自不同地区的自然变异，鉴定与拟南芥抗旱性相关的基因和生理网络。对水分利用效率极高和极低品种间干旱诱导的基因表达和生理差异进行表征，并对相关基因进行基因组定位。此外，还将开发新的资源用于拟南芥的定量遗传研究，包括图谱群体和一系列从生理多样性品种中获取基因组区域的遗传系。该项目的研究成果将有助于作物改良和了解植物抗旱性的演变。该项目将为博士后和学生提供分子遗传学、进化生物学、生理学和生物信息学方面的培训，这些都是下一代成功的基因组科学家所必需的技能。本科生和社区学院的学生将获得研究经验和职业探索和准备。所有植物材料和相关基因型数据将通过拟南芥信息资源基础设施（http://www.arabidopsis.org）提供。项目进度将在项目网站（https://webspace.utexas.edu/tjuenger/www/2010.htm）上公布。通过项目生成的微阵列数据将提交给AtGenExpress （http://web.uni-frankfurt.de/fb15/botanik/mcb/AFGN/atgenex.htm）。

Drought stress is ubiquitous and is an important selective agent in the evolution of plant growth, development, and physiology. Drought stress is also a major limiting factor to crop productivity worldwide. Many plant species vary among genetic lines in their ability to cope with drought and this variation provides a unique resource for exploring gene function. This 2010 project will identify genes and physiological networks associated with drought resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana using genome-wide molecular techniques and natural variation among accessions from different locations. Drought-induced gene expression and physiological differences among accessions with extreme high and low water use efficiency will be characterized and genes involved will be mapped to genomic positions. In addition, new resources will be developed for quantitative genetic studies in Arabidopsis, including a mapping population and a series of genetic lines capturing genomic regions from physiologically diverse accessions. Results from this project will be useful for application to crop improvement and to understanding evolution of drought resistance in plants. The project will provide training for postdocs and students in molecular genetics, evolutionary biology, physiology, and bioinformatics - skills necessary for the next generation of successful genomic scientists. Undergraduate and community college students will gain research experience and career exploration and preparation. All plant materials and associated genotypic data will be made available using The Arabidopsis Information Resource infrastructure (http://www.arabidopsis.org). Project progress will be available at the project website (https://webspace.utexas.edu/tjuenger/www/2010.htm). Microarray data generated through the project will be submitted to AtGenExpress (http://web.uni-frankfurt.de/fb15/botanik/mcb/AFGN/atgenex.htm).