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Genetic variation for root architecture, nutrient uptake and mycorrhizal colonisation in Medicago truncatula accessions

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Abstract

Sustainable agriculture strives for healthy, high yielding plants with minimal agronomic inputs. Genetic solutions to increase nutrient uptake are desirable because they provide ongoing improvements. To achieve this it is necessary to identify genes involved in uptake and translocation of nutrients. We selected Medicago truncatula L. as a model because of its: i) close genetic relationship to food legumes, ii) use as a pasture legume in southern Australia and iii) availability of mapping populations generated from genetically diverse accessions. We discovered statistically significant differences between eight accessions for: root architecture in growth pouches, % root colonisation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus intraradices, and plant tissue concentration of most macro- and micronutrients. Mycorrhizal colonisation had a significant effect on P concentration in roots but not shoots, Mg concentration in both roots and shoots, and the concentration of various micronutrients in shoots including Fe, Ca, but not Zn. Comparison of micronutrient uptake between root and shoot tissues showed that some M. truncatula accessions were more efficient at mobilisation of nutrients from roots to shoots. We are now in a position to use existing mapping populations of M. truncatula to identify quantitative trait loci important for human health and sustainable agriculture.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully thank Simon Ellwood and Richard Oliver for providing information on the availability of M. truncatula mapping populations. Accessions DZA045 and F83005 were kindly provided by David Bird. Expert technical assistance was provided by Eric Craft (nutrient analysis) and Jean-Patrick Toussaint (AM colonisation). Kathy Crowley provided access to and assistance with WinRHIZO. We thank Evelina Facelli for statistical advice and gratefully acknowledge Sally Smith, Andrew Smith and James Stangoulis for valuable discussions and critical comments on the manuscript. Financial assistance was provided by the AW Howard Memorial Trust Inc. for a travel grant (to CJS) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (DBI-0421676 to M.J.H).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia

    Carolyn J. Schultz

  2. Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, USDA-ARS, Cornell University, Tower Road, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Leon V. Kochian

  3. Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Tower Road, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Maria J. Harrison

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  1. Carolyn J. Schultz
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  2. Leon V. Kochian
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Correspondence to Carolyn J. Schultz.

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Supplementary Fig. 1

a Relative root dry weight based on fraction used for ICP analysis. b total shoot dry weight (as in Fig. 2b) to allow for comparison with root dry weight. (GIF 103 kb)

High resolution image file. (EPS 1171 kb)

Supplementary Fig. 2

a total root P. No significant difference for interaction but significant for root status (AM vs NM, P < 0.01) and genotype (P < 0.001). b total shoot P. No significant difference for interaction or root status (AM vs NM) but significant for genotype (P < 0.001). (GIF 98 kb)

High resolution image file. (EPS 1191 kb)

Supplementary Fig. 3

Total nutrient amount (mg or µg) in eight M. truncatula accessions under low Zn conditions. a root Zn, b shoot Zn, c root Mg, d shoot Mg, e root Fe, f shoot Fe, g root Mo and h shoot Mo. (GIF 736 kb)

High resolution image file. (EPS 1684 kb)

Supplementary Fig. 4

Concentration of micronutrients and K in eight M. truncatula accessions. Plants were grown for 4 wk after inoculation with G. intraradices (AM) or mock inoculation (NM) under low Zn conditions (n = 3 pots, 3 plants per pot). Open bars, NM; black bars AM. See Table 1 for 2-way ANOVA results of data. (PDF 272 kb)

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Schultz, C.J., Kochian, L.V. & Harrison, M.J. Genetic variation for root architecture, nutrient uptake and mycorrhizal colonisation in Medicago truncatula accessions. Plant Soil 336, 113–128 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0453-8

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