Natural variation in Arabidopsis thaliana reveals shoot ionome, biomass, and gene expression changes as biomarkers for zinc deficiency tolerance

Campos, Ana Carolina A.L.; Kruijer, Willem; Alexander, Ross; Akkers, Robert C.; Danku, John; Salt, David E.; Aarts, Mark G.M.

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) is an essential nutrient for plants, with a crucial role as a cofactor for many enzymes. Approximately one-third of the global arable land area is Zn deficient, leading to reduced crop yield and quality. To improve crop tolerance to Zn deficiency, it is important to understand the mechanisms plants have adopted to tolerate suboptimal Zn supply. In this study, physiological and molecular aspects of traits related to Zn deficiency tolerance were examined in a panel of 19 Arabidopsis thaliana accessions. Accessions showed a larger variation for shoot biomass than for Zn concentration, indicating that they have different requirements for their minimal Zn concentration required for growth. Accessions with a higher tolerance to Zn deficiency showed an increased expression of the Zn deficiency-responsive genes ZIP4 and IRT3 in comparison with Zn deficiency-sensitive accessions. Changes in the shoot ionome, as a result of the Zn treatment of the plants, were used to build a multinomial logistic regression model able to distinguish plants regarding their Zn nutritional status. This set of biomarkers, reflecting the A. thaliana response to Zn deficiency and Zn deficiency tolerance, can be useful for future studies aiming to improve the performance and Zn status of crop plants grown under suboptimal Zn concentrations.

Citation

Campos, A. C. A., Kruijer, W., Alexander, R., Akkers, R. C., Danku, J., Salt, D. E., & Aarts, M. G. (2017). Natural variation in Arabidopsis thaliana reveals shoot ionome, biomass, and gene expression changes as biomarkers for zinc deficiency tolerance. Journal of Experimental Botany, 68(13), 3643-3656. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erx191

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 20, 2017
• Publication Date: Jun 22, 2017
• Deposit Date: Sep 12, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 12, 2017
• Journal: Journal of Experimental Botany
• Print ISSN: 0022-0957
• Electronic ISSN: 1460-2431
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 68
• Issue: 13
• Pages: 3643-3656
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erx191
• Keywords: Biofortification, biomarker, mineral concentration, plant ionome, shoot growth, zinc usage index
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/867698
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/jxb/article/68/13/3643/3884310/Natural-variation-in-Arabidopsis-thaliana-reveals
• Additional Information: This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Experimental Botany following peer review. The version of record, Natural variation in Arabidopsis thaliana reveals shoot ionome, biomass, and gene expression changes as biomarkers for zinc deficiency tolerance. Ana Carolina A.L. Campos, Willem Kruijer, Ross Alexander, Robert C. Akkers, John Danku, David E. Salt, Mark G.M. Aarts, Journal of Experimental Botany, Volume 68, Issue 13, 15 June 2017, pp. 3643–3656 is available online at: https://academic.oup.com/jxb/article/68/13/3643/3884310/Natural-variation-in-Arabidopsis-thaliana-reveals and doi:10.1093/jxb/erx191.