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Cryptic Genetic Variation for Arabidopsis thaliana Seed Germination Speed in a Novel Salt Stress Environment.

ABSTRACT: The expansion of species ranges frequently necessitates responses to novel environments. In plants, the ability of seeds to disperse to marginal areas relies in part to its ability to germinate under stressful conditions. Here we examine the genetic architecture of Arabidopsis thaliana germination speed under a novel, saline environment, using an Extreme QTL (X-QTL) mapping platform we previously developed. We find that early germination in normal and salt conditions both rely on a QTL on the distal arm of chromosome 4, but we also find unique QTL on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, and 5 that are specific to salt stress environments. Moreover, different QTLs are responsible for early vs. late germination, suggesting a temporal component to the expression of life history under these stress conditions. Our results indicate that cryptic genetic variation exists for responses to a novel abiotic stress, which may suggest a role of such variation in adaptation to new climactic conditions or growth environments.

SUBMITTER: Yuan W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5068935 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Cryptic Genetic Variation for Arabidopsis thaliana Seed Germination Speed in a Novel Salt Stress Environment.

Yuan Wei W Flowers Jonathan M JM Sahraie Dustin J DJ Purugganan Michael D MD

G3 (Bethesda, Md.) 20161013 10

The expansion of species ranges frequently necessitates responses to novel environments. In plants, the ability of seeds to disperse to marginal areas relies in part to its ability to germinate under stressful conditions. Here we examine the genetic architecture of Arabidopsis thaliana germination speed under a novel, saline environment, using an Extreme QTL (X-QTL) mapping platform we previously developed. We find that early germination in normal and salt conditions both rely on a QTL on the di ...[more]

PMID: 27543295

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Project description:BackgroundWater and salt stresses are two important environmental factors that limit the germination of seeds in most ecological environments. Most studies conducted so far to address the genetic basis of the above phenomenon have used stress conditions that are much more extreme than those found in natural environments. Furthermore, although an excess of ions and water restrictions have similar osmotic effects on germination, the common and divergent signalling components mediating the effects of both factors remain unknown.MethodsThe germination of seeds was compared under solutions of NaCl (50 mm) and polyethylene glycol (PEG, -0·6 MPa), that establish mild stress conditions, in 28 Arabidopsis thaliana accessions. Because Bayreuth (Bay) and Shadara (Sha) accessions showed contrasting sensitivity responses to both stresses, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was carried out using Bay × Sha recombinant inbred lines (RILs) to identify loci involved in the control of germination under mild salt and osmotic stresses.Key resultsTwo loci associated with the salt sensitivity response, named SSR1 and SSR2 QTLs, and four loci for the osmotic sensitivity response, named OSR1-OSR4 QTLs, were mapped. The effects of the SSR1 QTL on toxic salt sensitivity, and the osmotic contribution of OSR1, were confirmed by heterogeneous inbred families (HIFs). Whilst the SSR1 QTL had a significant effect under a wide range of NaCl concentrations, the OSR1 QTL was confirmed only under moderate drought stress. Interestingly the OSR1 QTL also showed pleiotropic effects on biomass accumulation in response to water deficit.ConclusionsThe regulation of germination under moderate salt and osmotic stresses involves the action of independent major loci, revealing the existence of loci specifically associated with the toxic component of salt and not just its osmotic effect. Furthermore, this work demonstrates that novel loci control germination under osmotic stress conditions simulating more realistic ecological environments as found by populations of seeds in nature.

Dataset Information

Cryptic Genetic Variation for Arabidopsis thaliana Seed Germination Speed in a Novel Salt Stress Environment.

Publications

Cryptic Genetic Variation for Arabidopsis thaliana Seed Germination Speed in a Novel Salt Stress Environment.

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