TLP6 regulates lateral root angle in Arabidopsis thalianaTools Weblin, Joshua (2025) TLP6 regulates lateral root angle in Arabidopsis thaliana. MRes thesis, University of Nottingham.
AbstractRoot architecture plays a critical role in nutrient and water acquisition, as well as providing anchorage. This makes it vital for plant adaptation to environmental changes. A steeper root angle is particularly advantageous for capturing mobile nutrients, accessing deeper water reserves, and improving drought resilience. Previous studies have demonstrated that steeper root angles enhance crop yields under nitrogen and drought stress, underscoring the importance of understanding the mechanisms regulating root angle. In plants, root angle is governed by competing gravitropic and antigravitropic offset (AGO) mechanisms, with gravitropic set-point angles (GSA) dictating root orientation. Recent research in barley and wheat identified EGT1 (Enhanced Gravitropism 1) as a key component of the AGO pathway controlling root angle across all root classes. Moreover, our collaborators have shown that the ortholog in rice also has a conserved function. Despite these findings, little research has explored whether this mechanism is cereal-specific or conserved in non-cereal species such as Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis). To address this gap, we investigated tubby-like proteins (TLPs) in Arabidopsis (AtTLPs), which are implicated in various physiological processes, including root architecture regulation. This study examines the role of AtTLPs in controlling primary root gravitropism and lateral root angle traits. Using in silico protein localization, phylogenomic analyses, and phenotyping of T-DNA mutants of multiple AtTLP family members, we demonstrate that AtTLP6 significantly influences lateral root angle in Arabidopsis, suggesting a conserved role for TLPs in root architecture across species. These findings lay the groundwork for future research aimed at manipulating root angles in diverse crops to enhance stress resilience and nutrient acquisition.
Actions (Archive Staff Only)
|
Tools
Tools
