Research Article

RNA‐Seq Analysis of the Salt Tolerance Response in Prairie Cordgrass

Published: 2016-4

Journal: The FASEB Journal

DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.lb165

Abstract

The food vs fuel debate has created a demand for non‐cereal bioenergy plants that can be grown on lands not suitable for food crops. We examined the potential bioenergy crop Spartina pectinata, Prairie Cordgrass (PCG), for its salt tolerance by performing RNA‐seq on plants treated with 400 mM NaCL against those treated with water to find upregulated genes and genetic markers for salt tolerance. As a result we show a genetic component for salt tolerance through heritability studies and link it to the overexpression of genes in PCG when exposed to high salt concentrations. Future genetic studies could reveal the mechanism by which PCG survives poor soil conditions.

Faculty Members

  • Michael Robben - Henson Department of Biology Salisbury University Salisbury MDDepartment of Plant Sciences South Dakota State University Brookings SD
  • Jose Gonzalez - Department of Plant Sciences South Dakota State University Brookings SD

Themes

  • bioenergy crops
  • genetic studies
  • salt tolerance
  • food vs fuel debate

Categories

Download Article