Identification of Loci Regulating Root Architecture in Tomato

根是至关重要的，因为它将植物固定在土壤中，吸收并将水、营养物质和溶质输送到茎部。尽管它很重要，但关于如何控制根系结构的问题仍然存在，特别是在重要作物中。哪些基因和途径调节根结构、细胞模式和增殖？这些基因和途径在表现出根结构自然变异的植物中有何不同？哪些根构型基因在野生作物驯化过程中被选择？在野生番茄的近亲中，由于其耐旱和耐盐性，pennellii的根结构引起了特别的兴趣。本项目将利用野生pennellii与驯化番茄（S. lycopersicum）杂交的品系，鉴定调控根系发育的重要基因。每个品系都有来自pennellii的不同基因，这可能有助于其根结构。根系发育的形态学和细胞测量，以及描述基因表达差异的分子基因组数据将被收集。利用这些数据和统计计算方法，将鉴定出导致根构型差异的数量性状位点（QTL）和表达QTL （eQTL）。进一步的工作将定义基因调控相互作用、生物过程和祖先调控途径，以及确定控制根发育变异的候选因果基因。该项目的一个重要目标是培训所有团队成员以跨学科的方式将定量生物学与与植物发育相关的细胞生物学联系起来。对许多人来说，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。该项目将确定影响这种重要作物根系构型的基因，以及潜在的抗旱性和耐虫性。这一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.