| Abstract Detail
Water Relations Almeida-Rodriguez, Adriana [1], Cooke, Janice [2], Yeh, Francis [3], Zwiazek, Dr. Janusz [3]. Role of leaf aquaporins in responses of poplar trees to drought. Water deficit is a complex abiotic stress that severely limits plant growth and development. Water movement in plants occurs through the apoplastic, symplastic and transmembrane pathways. The transmembrane pathway is mediated by aquaporins and allows for fast and precise control of water movement. Several studies have implicated aquaporins in drought responses and demonstrated drought effects on the abundance, type, and localization of aquaporins in plants. However, little is known about the role of leaf aquaporins in plant responses to drought. The coordination of water flow between roots and leaves is particularly important in tree species which must transport high volumes of water through long distance. In the present project, two poplar clones (Populus sp.), Populus balsamifera and the hybrid poplar P38P38 (P. simonii x P. balsamifera), were selected with contrasting responses to drought (drought resistant and drought sensitive). Bioinformatic and phylogenetic approaches were used to identify and select gene sequences encoding aquaporins in the genus Populus, which had been related to both drought and leaf gene expression. The selected aquaporins were used for gene expression analyses using QRT-PCR to characterize the differential gene expression patterns of aquaporins in the drought-exposed poplars. Results have shown that leaf aquaporins play a key role in leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) responses of poplars, and they are differently expressed in the two studied clones, which is likely related to their different drought resistance strategies
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1 - University of Alberta, Renewable Resources, 442-Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
2 - University of Alberta, Biological Sciences
3 - University of Alberta, Renewable Resources
Keywords:
aquaporins
poplar
leaf hydrolic conductance
Drought.
Presentation Type: Plant Biology Abstract
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P09009
Abstract ID:462 |
