Project description:Sprobolus virginicus is a halophytic C4 grass found in worldwide from tropical to warm temperate regions. A Japanese genotype showed a salinity tolerance up to 1,500 mM NaCl, a three-fold higher concentration than seawater salinity. To identify key genes involved in the regulation of salt tolerance in S. virginicus, random cDNA libraries were constructed from salt-treated leaves, and were introduced into Arabidopsis for salt tolerant plant screening. Eight independent transgenic lines were found to be more salt tolerant than wild type from the screen of 3011 lines on the medium containing 175 mM NaCl. Among the selected lines, two contained cDNAs encoding glycine-rich RNA-binding proteins (GRPs). To identify transcriptomic change in the GRP-transgenic line, we performed microarray analysis of the transgenic line and WTunder salt stress.
Project description:Background: The soil environment is responsible for sustaining most terrestrial plant life on earth, yet we know surprisingly little about the important functions carried out by diverse microbial communities in soil. Soil microbes that inhabit the channels of decaying root systems, the detritusphere, are likely to be essential for plant growth and health, as these channels are the preferred locations of new root growth. Understanding the microbial metagenome of the detritusphere and how it responds to agricultural management such as crop rotations and soil tillage will be vital for improving global food production. Methods: The rhizosphere soils of wheat and chickpea growing under + and - decaying root were collected for metagenomics sequencing. A gene catalogue was established by de novo assembling metagenomic sequencing. Genes abundance was compared between bulk soil and rhizosphere soils under different treatments. Conclusions: The study describes the diversity and functional capacity of a high-quality soil microbial metagenome. The results demonstrate the contribution of the microbiome from decaying root in determining the metagenome of developing root systems, which is fundamental to plant growth, since roots preferentially inhabit previous root channels. Modifications in root microbial function through soil management, can ultimately govern plant health, productivity and food security.
Project description:This study identifies key microbiome and epithelial cell subtypes involved in grass digestion and VFA metabolism in the rumen. By integrating multi-omic data, we reveal novel links between microbial activity, epithelial cell function, and grassland foraging, providing critical insights into mechanisms underlying grass prevalence and their implications for optimizing ruminant health and productivity. This research enhances our understanding of the grass-microbiome- rumen axis and its role in sustainable grazing systems.