|
 
Henry Nguyen, coordinator
of the MU root genomics project. Photo
courtesy of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural
Resources
|
Getting
to the “Root” of Drought Tolerance
Improving drought tolerance in crops is the
primary objective of a newly funded research group at the University
of Missouri. The Plant
Root Genomics Consortium at MU recently received a $4.54 million
grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). During the four-year
project, researchers will study how plant roots acquire water
and minerals from the soil, how roots adapt to water deficit and
drought conditions, and how this knowledge can be transferred
to crop improvement through biotechnology.
“Drought is an important state,
national and global issue, perhaps the issue of the century,”
said Henry Nguyen, MU plant geneticist and consortium coordinator.
“Water deficits will greatly influence future agricultural
production, and that’s why it’s crucial we learn more
about the plant root system and its role.”
Nguyen cited Missouri’s corn yields,
which were significantly lower in 2002, as one example of the
impact that even a localized drought can play on crops. He said
that depending on severity, drought can reduce crop yields by
25 to 75 percent.
Often referred to as the “hidden half”
of a plant, roots are responsible for water and mineral acquisition,
which is essential for plant growth and development. Because roots
are underground and difficult to study, they have received much
less scientific attention than other plant parts, Nguyen said.
The consortium project will focus first on
corn roots, using MU’s extensive background in maize (corn)
genomics. Researchers involved will include plant geneticists,
physiologists and bioinformatics specialists from MU, the University
of Illinois and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St.
Louis.
“Once we develop resources and expertise
with maize, we can then apply that knowledge to other systems,
such as soybeans, wheat and other cereals,” said Nguyen,
who also is a Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council Endowed Professor
of Genetics and Soybean Biotechnology. “After we have a
better understanding of drought mechanisms, we’ll then move
on to other root functions, such as nutrient uptake.”
All data from the project will be publicly
available from the consortium’s web site.
Archives
| Comments | Home SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscribe
| Change Your
Address | Unsubscribe
Copyright © 2008 — Curators of the University of Missouri
DMCA and other copyright information.
All rights reserved.
An equal opportunity/ADA institution.
Published by the Mizzou Alumni Association
Questions? Comments? E-mail comments@mizzoualumni.org
Last Update:
August 7, 2008
|
