Nandini Pharasi, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology
Scientists have discovered mutant barley whose roots do not grow sideways as they typically would, but instead straight down. “Hypergravitropic” is the term given to this mutant because it follows gravity considerably more strongly than its conspecifics do.
Barley as a drought-resistant plant
Grains such as barley are among the most significant grains on the planet. Beer brewing, barley groats, barley flakes, and barley flour are some of its applications. New studies examined the fundamental reasons. In agriculture, it’s easy to overlook the necessity of a healthy root system. In addition, whether or not roots can efficiently obtain water and nutrients influences how well essential crops can withstand drought and climate change. As a result, the roots of barley develop considerably more sharply than they normally do. This discovery might serve as a starting point for the development of drought-resistant kinds of plants in the future.
Where did the research start from?
Researchers compared the mutant’s genetic material to that of a regular barley plant. An increased gravitropism 2 (egt2) chromosomal mutations were found, which they termed “enhanced gravitropism 2” (egt2). 2 implies that the team is working on a comparable mutation in addition to the one mentioned above (egt1). To prove that egt2 is truly responsible for the vertical development of the roots, the researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 gene scissors to intentionally create such a mutation in normal barley plants.
Deep history from scanning
A scanner and special software were used to measure the root angles of the tiny barley plants. Forschungszentrum Jülich (one of the largest interdisciplinary research centres in Europe) was also consulted in this study. MRI scanners were used to cultivate the barley in special “flower pots”.
The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to “see-through” the soil and record the root development in this way. Egt2 mutant plants are far more sensitive to gravity than normal plants. When the roots of the barley seedlings were placed at a 90-degree angle to gravity, as was confirmed by the researchers’ experiments. This led the roots to develop in a direction opposite to gravity, explains Dr. Kirschner.
Mutation in barley
Mutations are quite rare. The mutation seems to be infrequent. Many mutants have roots that are shorter or absent. Genetic variations in root angles are relatively uncommon. The researchers were able to show that wheat plants have a very similar mutation. Hochholdinger (a co-author of the study) explains that the aforementioned fact “demonstrates that the gene is evolutionarily conserved.” In other words, this gene is crucial not only for barley but also for other key crops. This mutation, according to experts, might serve as a starting point for breeding new kinds. To access water supplies and mobile nutrients at greater depths, deeper roots are advantageous, argues Hochholdinger. If the roots are wider, they can reach more nutrients and provide more stability to the plants. Which root system gives the best circumstances for good harvests, then, is determined by the specific site in which the plant is planted. Roots that are steeper in drier locations and shallower spread roots in nutrient-poor areas are examples of this.
Establishing drought-tolerant breeds as a starting point:
Hochholdinger believes that breeding has mainly ignored the importance of the roots. However, as a result of rising droughts due to climate change, the design of the root system may become increasingly important. As a result of this mutation, climate-adaptive cultivars might be developed. Until far, researchers have not been able to determine the gene’s specific molecular role. A team of scientists is presently researching the signaling pathways that the EGT2 protein is engaged in at Bonn University.
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References:
- Kirschner, G. K., Rosignoli, S., Guo, L., Vardanega, I., Imani, J., Altmüller, J., Milner, S. G., Balzano, R., Nagel, K. A., Pflugfelder, D., Forestan, C., Bovina, R., Koller, R., Stöcker, T. G., Mascher, M., Simmonds, J., Uauy, C., Schoof, H., Tuberosa, R., … Hochholdinger, F. (2021). ENHANCED GRAVITROPISM 2 encodes a STERILE ALPHA MOTIF–containing protein that controls root growth angle in barley and wheat. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(35). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2101526118
- Bonn, U. of. (n.d.). Rare barley mutation with potential. Retrieved August 28, 2021, from https://phys.org/news/2021-08-rare-barley-mutation-potential.html
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