Comparative genome-scale analyses of submergence and anaerobic germination mechanisms in rice and maize

洪水事件严重破坏了美国和其他地区的农业生产。开发能够抵御短期洪水的作物品种有助于稳定和增加粮食产量。最近对耐短期淹水水稻品种的认识导致了耐淹调节基因SUB1A的鉴定。SUB1A的精确遗传特性使育种者能够开发出具有耐淹性的高产水稻新品种，这些新品种现在已在南亚和东南亚的易发洪水的田地中种植。该项目将继续对SUB1A进行分子表征，并寻找在开发早期起作用的新的淹没调节因子。在种子发芽期间能在洪水中存活的水稻植株可以减少人工成本和除草剂的使用。将在水稻中探索SUB1A与新近发现的厌氧萌发1 （AG1）基因结合的有效性。此外，分子对洪水反应的表征将扩展到玉米，这是一种重要的粮食作物，对洪水敏感。这些分析将检验玉米厌氧萌发和耐淹性的遗传变异，以及对这些胁迫的分子响应。研究结果将有助于进一步了解水稻和玉米种子萌发和营养生长过程中对洪水的感知、信号和响应机制。这项研究将在西班牙裔服务机构进行。博士后、研究生和本科生研究人员将在多元文化的实验室和研究所环境中接受生理学、分子生物学、分析化学和系统生物学的跨学科培训。科学学习模块的开发和传播将使标题一学校的八年级学生（许多来自代表性不足的群体）能够参与实践科学实验，展示植物生物学研究对粮食安全和可持续农业的重要性。从该项目中获得的知识将对美国和其他地方的食品、饲料和燃料生产产生积极影响。

Flooding events significantly damage agricultural production in the US and elsewhere. The development of crop cultivars that can survive short-term flooding can help stabilize and increase food production. The recent recognition of rice varieties tolerant to short-term flooding has led to the identification of the submergence tolerance regulator gene called SUB1A. The precise genetic characterization of SUB1A has allowed breeders to develop new high-yielding rice varieties with submergence tolerance that are now grown in flood-prone fields of South and Southeast Asia. This project will continue the molecular characterization of SUB1A and seek new submergence regulators that act earlier in development. Rice plants that can survive flooding during seed germination can reduce labor cost and herbicide use. The effectiveness of combining SUB1A with the recently identified ANAEROBIC GERMINATION 1 (AG1) gene will be explored in rice. Additionally, the characterization of molecular responses to flooding will be extended to corn, a vital grain crop that is flooding sensitive. These analyses will examine genetic variation in anaerobic germination and submergence tolerance in maize as well as profile and manipulate molecular responses to these stresses. The results will provide a greater understanding of sensing, signaling and response mechanisms to flooding during seed germination and vegetative growth in rice and maize. The research will be carried out at a Hispanic Serving institution. Postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate researchers will receive cross-disciplinary training in physiology, molecular biology, analytical chemistry and systems biology in a multicultural laboratory and institute environment. The development and dissemination of a science-learning module will allow 8th graders, many from underrepresented groups, at Title I schools to participate in hands-on science experiments demonstrating the significance of plant biology research on food security and sustainable agriculture. The knowledge obtained from this project will favorably impact food, feed and fuel production in the US and elsewhere.