Capturing unprecedented natural diversity in plant metal accumulation: a comprehensive survey of European Arabidopsis halleri populations
2 Department of Plant Physiology, University of Bochum, Germany
O 2.5 in Research in its Prime: First Results of Ongoing Research
10.10.2013, 10:45-11:00, H6, GEO
Capturing unprecedented natural diversity in plant metal accumulation: a comprehensive survey of European Arabidopsis halleri populations
Stephan Höreth1, Ricardo Stein2, Ute Krämer2, Stephan Clemens1
1Department of Plant Physiology, University of Bayreuth, Germany
2Department of Plant Physiology, University of Bochum, Germany
Key words: Cd accumulation, natural variation
As part of a project aiming at the genome-wide molecular analysis of variation in A. halleri metal hyperaccumulation we conducted a large survey covering the natural range of A. halleri in Europe. We have analyzed in total over 2000 field-collected leaf and rhizosphere soil samples of A. halleri individuals from 195 populations. Herbivory was scored to test the elemental defense hypothesis. About 800 individuals were transferred to the lab for phenotyping under controlled, uniform conditions. The field data for 20 elements reveal associations between soil factors and elemental profiles as well as between metal acquisition pathways. We found, for instance, an extreme extent of variation and regional patterns in Cd hyperaccumulation. The initial phenotyping under controlled conditions confirmed these results, suggesting recent evolution of the Cd hyperaccumulation trait. Moreover, not only variation in Cd and Zn accumulation was observed, but also substantial variation for other micronutrients such as Fe and Mn to a degree that has rarely been documented to date. Thus, through the use of next-generation sequencing technologies, this collection of 800 genotypes will enable the molecular dissection of many aspects of plant microelement nutrition in addition to the evolution of Zn/Cd hyperaccumulation.
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