Critical Gene Boosts Zinc Tolerance of Plants

Researchers from China National Rice Research Institute and partners have identified that the Trichome Birefringence (TBR) gene allows plants to handle extra zinc in the soil.

Zinc is an important micronutrient that can become toxic to living cells when present in excess. Therefore, plants have developed mechanisms that will help them tolerate zinc toxicity. Plants absorb zinc on their cell walls through a process called pectin methylesterification. In this process, the structure of the cell wall's pectin molecules were altered to store additional zinc.

Scientists conducted genome-wide association studies to identify genetic loci that play a role in zinc tolerance of plants. Among 21 significant associated loci, the team detected that Trichome Birefringence (TBR) is the main gene that modulates pectin methylesterification. When the TBR gene is active, there is increased zinc storage in the plants' cell walls. Their findings may help researchers develop crops that are more zinc tolerant.

Read the article in Nature Communications for more information.