Journal Article

Genetic architecture of plant stress resistance

Joost van Heerwaarden, Colette Broekgaarden, Nelson H. Davila Olivas, Harro J. Bouwmeester, Johanna A. Bac-Molenaar, Joop J. A. van Loon, Richard G. F. Visser, Fred A. van Eeuwijk, Wilco Ligterink, Emilie F. Fradin, Manus P. M. Thoen, Dick Vreugdenhil, Karen J. Kloth, Jaap Bakker, Johan Bucher, Sonja Warmerdam, Marcel Dicke, Jacqueline Busscher-Lange, Joost J. B. Keurentjes, Johan A. van Pelt, Magdalena M. Julkowska, Silvia Coolen, Casper C. van Schaik, Christa Testerink, Ping-Ping Huang, Geert Smant, Corné M. J. Pieterse, Saskia C. M. van Wees, Gerrie L. Wiegers, Carolien Ruyter-Spira, Roeland Voorrips, Mark G. M. Aarts, Xi Cheng, Willem Kruijer, Maarten A. Jongsma, Björn Usadel, Ben Vosman

2017

Overview

Plants are exposed to combinations of various biotic and abiotic stresses, but stress responses are usually investigated for single stresses only. Here, we investigated the genetic architecture underlying plant responses to 11 single stresses and several of their combinations by phenotyping 350 Arabidopsis thaliana accessions. A set of 214 000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was screened for marker-trait associations in genome-wide association (GWA) analyses using tailored multi-trait mixed models. Stress responses that share phytohormonal signaling pathways also share genetic architecture underlying these responses. After removing the effects of general robustness, for the 30 most significant SNPs, average quantitative trait locus (QTL) effect sizes were larger for dual stresses than for single stresses. Plants appear to deploy broad-spectrum defensive mechanisms influencing multiple traits in response to combined stresses. Association analyses identified QTLs with contrasting and with similar responses to biotic vs abiotic stresses, and below-ground vs above-ground stresses. Our approach allowed for an unprecedented comprehensive genetic analysis of how plants deal with a wide spectrum of stress conditions.

• Publisher: New Phytologist Trust,Wiley Subscription Services, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subject: abiotic stress / Arabidopsis - genetics / Arabidopsis - physiology / Arabidopsis thaliana / Bioint Entomology & Disease Management / Biometris / Biometris (PPO/PRI) / Biometris (WU MAT) / BIOS Applied Metabolic Systems / BIOS Plant Development Systems / biotic stress / Chromosome Mapping / DNA, Bacterial - genetics / EPS / Gene mapping / Genes, Plant / genetic analysis / genetic architecture / Genetic Association Studies / Genome-Wide Association Study / genome‐wide association mapping / Groep Koornneef / Inheritance Patterns - genetics / Laboratorium voor Entomologie / Laboratorium voor Nematologie / Laboratorium voor Plantenfysiologie / Laboratorium voor Plantenveredeling / Laboratory of Entomology / Laboratory of Nematology / Laboratory of Plant Breeding / Laboratory of Plant Physiology / Leerstoelgroep Plantaardige productiesystemen / Mathematical and Statistical Methods - Biometris / Models, Genetic / multiple stresses / Mutation - genetics / PBR Breeding for growth and development / PBR Groei & Ontwikkeling / PBR Kwantitatieve aspecten / PBR Non host and insect resistance / PBR Non host en Insectenresistentie / PBR Quantitative aspects of Plant Breeding / PE&RC / Phenotype / Plant Breeding / Plant Growth Regulators - metabolism / Plant Production Systems / plant response / plant stress / Plantaardige Productiesystemen / PRI Bioint Entomology & Disease Management / PRI BIOS Applied Metabolic Systems / PRI BIOS Plant Development Systems / quantitative trait loci / Quantitative Trait Loci - genetics / Reproducibility of Results / signal transduction / single nucleotide polymorphism / stress response / stress tolerance / Stress, Physiological - genetics / Wiskundige en Statistische Methoden - Biometris / WUR PB Groei & Ontwikkeling / WUR PB Kwantitatieve Aspecten / WUR PB Non host en Insectenresistentie