Periodic Reporting for period 4 - IDRICA (Improving Drought Resistance in Crops and Arabidopsis)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2021-05-01 do 2022-10-31
Also in the context of the ERC CoG, we have developed novel tools for plant data integration and analysis and developed software tools for this purpose (Betegon,et al., Plant Journal 2019). We have found a tight correlation between transcriptional responses of plants with increased BR receptor BRL3 levels and the accumulation of osmoprotectant metabolites (sugars and aminoacids) in the root by metabolomics analysis (Fabregas et al., Nat Comms 2018). To this aim, we are also developing a new software tool (TOTEM, a web tool that calculates tissue-enrichment values over an input gene list and visual representation. The latest developments in this direction include the singe-cell transcriptomics resolution that has also been achieved in the context of Obj. 2 of this ERC grant that will be publicly available here Lozano, Coleto et al., ms. under preparation. These new tools will be instrumental for the accomplishment of the genetic and chemicals screenings proposed in Objective 2.
In Objetive 3, we have transferred our fundamental findings in Arabidopsis to cereal Sorghum. We identified and characterised mutants for BRI1-like family member in Sorghum. We carried genetic analysis and established the set up microscopical and multi -omics tools for the analysis of root using embryonic roots. The initial characterisation of the BRI1 receptor mutants is under review (Rico-Medina et al., submitted). Finally, our greatest efforts in Sorghum are oriented towards the establishment of gene transformation protocols in order to lead genomic edition of most interested genes to improve drought resistance.
Overall, our proposal advance novel mechanisms for the molecular understanding of plants to drought stress adaptation mediated by brassinosteroid hormones, while transfers all the technologies and knowhow into agricultural value in order to improve cereal production in climate change scenarios using sorghum as a model.
Objective 1- We managed to accomplish the tasks proposed in this objective faster than proposed. As a results number of novel results linked to the phenotypes of brl3 mutants in response to genomic and abiotic stresses that encourage the rapid progress of the project. For example, we have new results linking the role of BRL3 receptors in flowering and photoperiodism that were originally unplanned.
Objective 2- we did not go beyond the state of the art because we have not been able to establish the root phenotyping as we did not have a phenotyping facility at CRAG. Anyway, we have found an alternative way of establishing a custom phenotyping system that will enable the high throughput analyses of our plants and catch up in time the IDRICA proposed schedule. We use hytpocotyl phenotype of brl3 mutants that was found along the course of Obj. 1.
Objective 3- We accomplished the proposed tasks as proposed. In addition, we also performed the molecular analysis of BRL3 promoter in Sorghum. Although this was not proposed in the the project, we dedicated effort to establish Sorghum transformation methods, to further chase our scientific and agronomic objectives. Above all, we are doing our best to rapid transfer of the project from model system Arabidopsis to Sorghum. In addition, as part of Obj. 3, we have been able to carry an unprecedented visualization of sorghum stem cells in the root apex, establish a number of physiological, biochemical and molecular assays that will be extremely useful for the study of cereal Sorghum in the years to come.