Collaborative Research: Linking brace root development and function in maize

合作研究：将玉米支撑根的发育和功能联系起来

基本信息

批准号：
2109189
负责人：
Erin Sparks
金额：
$ 47.88万
依托单位：
University of Delaware
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2021
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2021-09-01 至 2025-08-31
项目状态：
未结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2109189&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Collaborative Research Linking brace root

项目摘要

U.S. agricultural crop production faces the challenge of growing more food on increasingly limited land area and under increasingly harsh environmental conditions. Meeting this production challenge requires new innovations and the identification of new areas to target for increasing plant resilience. One of these overlooked target areas is optimization of aerial root function. Given their central role in water uptake, nutrient use, and anchorage, aerial roots are an important, yet poorly understood area for crop improvement. This proposal focuses on maize (corn), the number one commodity crop in the US, and how targeted changes in aerial root development can lead to functional outcomes. Specifically, this research will identify which root developmental programs can be altered to generate beneficial agronomic results. The outcomes of this basic research will help develop sustainable crop systems, which will enhance scientific knowledge and help secure our food supply. Undergraduate and graduate students will gain interdisciplinary training through research opportunities in the lab, attendance at national conferences, and engagement with the agricultural community through participation in the annual University of Delaware Ag Day event.This proposal aims to define the fundamental link between root development and function using maize nodal roots as a model system. There are only a few genes known to alter nodal root development and they have not been placed in a larger genetic context that will allow an understanding of root functional consequences. In this proposal, squamosa promoter binding protein (SBP) transcription factors, known regulators of the juvenile-to-adult phase transition, will be used to alter and regulate nodal root development and the functional outcomes will be analyzed. This proposal specifically tests the hypothesis that “SBP genes directly regulate nodal root development to determine nodal root number and alter root function.” Using brace roots as a model for nodal root development, the researchers will test this hypothesis by quantifying the root phenotypic outcomes of modulating sbp expression, defining the genetic mechanisms underlying SBP-regulation of nodal root development, and determining the functional consequences of these root phenotypic changes. The results from this proposal will provide a foundational understanding of how modulating root development can elicit targeted root functional outcomes.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

美国农作物生产面临的挑战是，在越来越有限的土地面积和日益损害的环境条件下种植更多的食物。应对这一生产挑战需要新的创新，并确定新领域以提高植物弹性。这些被忽视的目标区域之一是优化天线功能。鉴于它们在水吸收，养分使用和锚定中的核心作用，空中根是一个重要但知之甚少的作物改善领域。该提案侧重于玉米（玉米），美国排名第一的商品作物，以及空中根源开发的目标变化如何导致功能结果。具体而言，这项研究将确定可以更改哪些根源发展计划以产生有益的农艺结果。这项基础研究的结果将有助于开发可持续的作物系统，这将增强科学知识并帮助确保我们的粮食供应。本科生和研究生将通过实验室的研究机会，参加全国会议的出席以及与农业大学年度特色大学AG Day活动的互动来获得跨学科的培训。该提案旨在定义使用Maize Nodal Roots作为模型系统的根源开发和使用根部开发功能之间的基本联系。只有少数几个基因可以改变淋巴结根的发育，并且尚未将其置于更大的遗传环境中，从而可以理解根部功能后果。在此提案中，幼体到成年相变的已知调节剂的鳞状启动子结合蛋白（SBP）转录因子将用于改变和调节淋巴结根的发育，并将分析功能结果。该建议专门检验了以下假设：“ SBP基因直接调节淋巴结根源以确定淋巴结根号并改变根部函数”。研究人员将使用支撑根作为淋巴结根发育的模型，将通过量化调节SBP表达的根表型结果来检验该假设，从而定义了淋巴结根发育的SBP调节的遗传机制，并确定这些根表型型变化的功能后果。该提案的结果将提供基本的理解，即调节根源如何引起针对性的根源功能结果。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并通过使用基金会的智力优点和更广泛的影响审查标准来通过评估来诚实地支持支持。