Generation of effective zinc-deficient agar-solidified media allows identification of root morphology changes in response to zinc limitation. (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sinclair, S. A.; Krämer, U.
• Is Part Of: Plant signaling & behavior. Volume 15:Number 1(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: zinc deficiency -- chelator -- EDTA -- HBED -- iron -- root morphology -- primary root length -- Arabidopsis -- mineral nutrition -- root biomass -- zinc limitation; Plant ecophysiology -- Periodicals; Plant cellular signal transduction -- Periodicals; Plant cellular signal transduction; Plant ecophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 581
• DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2019.1687175
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1559-2316

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Earlier, we demonstrated that transcript levels of METAL TOLERANCE PROTEIN2 ( MTP2) and of HEAVY METAL ATPase2 ( HMA2 ) increase strongly in roots of Arabidopsis upon prolonged zinc (Zn) deficiency and respond to shoot physiological Zn status, and not to the local Zn status in roots. This provided evidence for shoot-to-root communication in the acclimation of plants to Zn deficiency. Zn-deficient soils limit both the yield and quality of agricultural crops and can result in clinically relevant nutritional Zn deficiency in human populations. Implementing Zn deficiency during cultivation of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana on agar-solidified media is difficult because trace element contaminations are present in almost all commercially available agars. Here, we demonstrate root morphological acclimations to Zn deficiency on agar-solidified medium following the effective removal of contaminants. These advancements allow reproducible phenotyping toward understanding fundamental plant responses to deficiencies of Zn and other essential trace elements.