Root System Depth in Arabidopsis Is Shaped by EXOCYST70A3 via the Dynamic Modulation of Auxin Transport.
Root system architecture (RSA), the distribution of roots in soil, plays a major role in plant survival. RSA is shaped by multiple developmental processes that are largely governed by the phytohormone auxin, suggesting that auxin regulates responses of roots that are important for local adaptation. However, auxin has a central role in numerous processes, and it is unclear which molecular mechanisms contribute to the variation in RSA for environmental adaptation. Using natural variation in Arabidopsis, we identify EXOCYST70A3 as a modulator of the auxin system that causes variation in RSA by acting on PIN4 protein distribution. Allelic variation and genetic perturbation of EXOCYST70A3 lead to alteration of root gravitropic responses, resulting in a different RSA depth profile and drought resistance. Overall our findings suggest that the local modulation of the pleiotropic auxin pathway can gives rise to distinct RSAs that can be adaptive in specific environments.
['Ogura|Takehiko|T|', 'Goeschl|Christian|C|', 'Filiault|Daniele|D|', 'Mirea|Madalina|M|', 'Slovak|Radka|R|', 'Wolhrab|Bonnie|B|', 'Satbhai|Santosh B|SB|', 'Busch|Wolfgang|W|']
D000483:Alleles D001058:Apomorphine D017360:Arabidopsis D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins D055864:Droughts D005089:Exocytosis D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study D007210:Indoleacetic Acids D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins D009154:Mutation D018517:Plant Roots
auxin root system architecture adaptation natural variation PIN4 Arabidopsis thaliana EXOCYST GWAS genome-wide association study plant biology root depth root development