A DNA-based method for studying root responses to drought in field-grown wheat genotypes.
Root systems are critical for water and nutrient acquisition by crops. Current methods measuring root biomass and length are slow and labour-intensive for studying root responses to environmental stresses in the field. Here, we report the development of a method that measures changes in the root DNA concentration in soil and detects root responses to drought in controlled environment and field trials. To allow comparison of soil DNA concentrations from different wheat genotypes, we also developed a procedure for correcting genotypic differences in the copy number of the target DNA sequence. The new method eliminates the need for separation of roots from soil and permits large-scale phenotyping of root responses to drought or other environmental and disease stresses in the field.
Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia, 5064, Australia.
Chun Y
CY
Huang
Haydn
H
Kuchel
James
J
Edwards
Sharla
S
Hall
Boris
B
Parent
Paul
P
Eckermann
Herdina
Diana M
DM
Hartley
Peter
P
Langridge
Alan C
AC
McKay
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D018533:Biomass; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D055864:Droughts; D004777:Environment; D005838:Genotype; D010641:Phenotype; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics*; D012987:Soil; D014908:Triticum / Q000235:genetics*; D014867:Water
D012987:Soil; D014867:Water; D004247:DNA