Researchers from Germany, Italy and UK discovers mutant barley with roots drawn to gravity

Published 2021년 11월 10일

Tridge summary

Researchers have discovered a mutant barley with roots that grow straight down instead of spreading out, a trait that could be used to breed drought-resistant varieties. The mutation, named "enhanced gravitropism 2" (egt2), was identified in the barley cultivar Morex and affects the root's growth angle, potentially improving anchorage and nutrient capture. The research team also found a similar mutation in wheat. However, the researchers note that the optimal root system for high yields depends on the location, with deeper roots being favored in drier regions and shallower roots in nutrient-poor areas. The mutation could have unclear trade-off effects due to altered cell wall stiffness.

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Original content

The ability of plant roots to efficiently access water and nutrients sets up strong plant health and resilience to weather events such as heat waves and drought. Now, researchers from the universities of Bonn in Germany and Bologna, Italy, as well as colleagues in the United Kingdom have discovered a mutant in barley in which the roots grow straight down, rather than the typical growth pattern of spreading sideways or outwards. A variation in the angle of root growth can affect the way roots anchor to, and explore, different soil layers to capture nutrients and water. This could open up opportunities for breeding more drought-resistant varieties. The mutant root system was discovered during genetic work with the barley cultivar Morex at the University of Bologna. Silvio Salvi, associate professor in the department of agri-food sciences and technologies at the university, said the group produced about 4,000 independent mutant lines. The collection, called TILLMore, was aimed at ...

Source: The Western Producer