A single nucleotide substitution in TaHKT1;5-D controls shoot Na+ accumulation in bread wheat

Borjigin, C.; Schilling, R. K.; Bose, J.; Hrmova, M.; Qiu, J.; Wege, S.; Situmorang, A.; Brien, C.; Berger, B.; Gilliham, M.; Pearson, A. S.; Roy, S. J.

doi:10.1101/2020.01.21.909887

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.01.21.909887

A single nucleotide substitution in TaHKT1;5-D controls shoot Na+ accumulation in bread wheat

Borjigin, C.·Schilling, R. K.·Bose, J.·Hrmova, M.·Qiu, J.·Wege, S.·Situmorang, A.·Brien, C.·Berger, B.·Gilliham, M.·Pearson, A. S.·Roy, S. J.

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Abstract

Improving salinity tolerance in the most widely cultivated cereal, bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), is essential to increase grain yields on saline agricultural lands. A Portuguese landrace, Mocho de Espiga Branca accumulates up to 6 folds greater leaf and sheath sodium (Na+) than two Australian cultivars, Gladius and Scout, under salt stress. Despite high leaf and sheath Na+ concentrations, Mocho de Espiga Branca maintained similar salinity tolerance compared to Gladius and Scout. A naturally occurring single nucleotide substitution was identified in the gene encoding a major Na+ transporter TaHKT1;5-D in Mocho de Espiga Branca, which resulted in a L190P amino acid residue variation. This variant prevents Mocho de Espiga Branca from retrieving Na+ from the root xylem leading to a high shoot Na+ concentration. The identification of the tissue tolerant Mocho de Espiga Branca will accelerate the development of more elite salt tolerant bread wheat cultivars.

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Borjigin, C., Schilling, R. K., Bose, J., Hrmova, M., Qiu, J., Wege, S., Situmorang, A., Brien, C., Berger, B., Gilliham, M., Pearson, A. S., Roy, S. J.. 2020-01-24. A single nucleotide substitution in TaHKT1;5-D controls shoot Na+ accumulation in bread wheat. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.01.21.909887

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