Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Complex Genetic Architecture of Cadmium and Mercury Accumulation and Tolerance Traits in Medicago truncatula.

ABSTRACT: Heavy metals are an increasing problem due to contamination from human sources that and can enter the food chain by being taken up by plants. Understanding the genetic basis of accumulation and tolerance in plants is important for reducing the uptake of toxic metals in crops and crop relatives, as well as for removing heavy metals from soils by means of phytoremediation. Following exposure of Medicago truncatula seedlings to cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg), we conducted a genome-wide association study using relative root growth (RRG) and leaf accumulation measurements. Cd and Hg accumulation and RRG had heritability ranging 0.44 - 0.72 indicating high genetic diversity for these traits. The Cd and Hg trait associations were broadly distributed throughout the genome, indicated the trai

SUBMITTER: Paape T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8832151 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature