TaMOR is Essential for Root Initiation and Improvement of Root System Architecture in Wheat

Overview

Journal Plant Biotechnol J

Specialties Biology
Biotechnology

Date 2021 Dec 10

PMID 34890129

Citations 10

Authors

Chaonan Li

Jingyi Wang

Long Li

Jialu Li

Mengjia Zhuang

Bo Li

Qiaoru Li

Junfang Huang

Yan Du

Jinping Wang

Zipei Fan

Xinguo Mao

Ruilian Jing

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Optimal root system architecture is beneficial for water-fertilizer use efficiency, stress tolerance and yield improvement of crops. However, because of the complexity of root traits and difficulty in phenotyping deep roots, the study on mechanisms of root development is rarely reported in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this study, we identified that the LBD (LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN) gene TaMOR (MORE ROOT in wheat) determines wheat crown root initiation. The mor mutants exhibited less or even no crown root, dwarfism, less grain number and lodging caused by few roots. The observation of cross sections showed that crown root initiation is inhibited in the mor mutants. Molecular assays revealed that TaMOR interacts with the auxin response factor ARF5 to directly induce the expression of the auxin transporter gene PIN2 (PIN-FORMED 2) in the root base to regulate crown root initiation. In addition, a 159-bp MITE (miniature inverted-repeat transposable element) insertion causing DNA methylation and lower expression of TaMOR-B was identified in TaMOR-B promoter, which is associated with lower root dry weight and shorter plant height. The results bring new light into regulation mechanisms of crown root initiation and offer a new target for the improvement of root system architecture in wheat.

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