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ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS AND ADAPTATION TO STRESS

The Effect of Iron on the Primary Root Elongation of Arabidopsis during Phosphate Deficiency^1,[W],[OA]

Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907–1165

Root architecture differences have been linked to the survival of plants on phosphate (P)-deficient soils, as well as to the improved yields of P-efficient crop cultivars. To understand how these differences arise, we have studied the root architectures of P-deficient Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana Columbia-0) plants. A striking aspect of the root architecture of these plants is that their primary root elongation is inhibited when grown on P-deficient medium. Here, we present evidence suggesting that this inhibition is a result of iron (Fe) toxicity. When the Fe concentration in P-deficient medium is reduced, we observe elongation of the primary root without an increase in P availability or a corresponding change in the expression of P deficiency-regulated genes. Recovery of the primary root elongation is associated with larger plant weights, improved ability to take up P from the medium, and increased tissue P content. This suggests that manipulating Fe availability to a plant could be a valuable strategy for improving a plant's ability to tolerate P deficiency.

The author responsible for distribution of materials integral to the findings presented in this article in accordance with the policy described in the Instructions for Authors (www.plantphysiol.org) is: Kashchandra G. Raghothama (kraghoth{at}purdue.edu).

^[W] The online version of this article contains Web-only data.

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www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/doi/10.1104/pp.108.118562

^* Corresponding author; e-mail kraghoth{at}purdue.edu.

Received March 1, 2008; accepted April 23, 2008; published May 8, 2008.

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