Natural allelic variation of the AZI1 gene controls root growth under zinc-limiting condition

PLoS Genet. 2018 Apr 2;14(4):e1007304. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007304. eCollection 2018 Apr.

Abstract

Zinc is an essential micronutrient for all living organisms and is involved in a plethora of processes including growth and development, and immunity. However, it is unknown if there is a common genetic and molecular basis underlying multiple facets of zinc function. Here we used natural variation in Arabidopsis thaliana to study the role of zinc in regulating growth. We identify allelic variation of the systemic immunity gene AZI1 as a key for determining root growth responses to low zinc conditions. We further demonstrate that this gene is important for modulating primary root length depending on the zinc and defence status. Finally, we show that the interaction of the immunity signal azelaic acid and zinc level to regulate root growth is conserved in rice. This work demonstrates that there is a common genetic and molecular basis for multiple zinc dependent processes and that nutrient cues can determine the balance of growth and immune responses in plants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles*
  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis / immunology
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics*
  • Dicarboxylic Acids / metabolism
  • Genes, Plant*
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Oryza / genetics
  • Oryza / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / growth & development*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Zinc / deficiency*

Substances

  • AZI1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Dicarboxylic Acids
  • azelaic acid
  • Zinc

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the “Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique – Montpellier - France” INRA (HR), Région Languedoc-Roussillon: Chercheurd’Avenir/Projet Cofinancé par le Fonds Européen de Développement Regional (HR), and supported by funds from the Austrian Academy of Science through the Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and an Austrian Science Fund (FWF) stand-alone project (P27163-B22) (WB). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.