Poster: Water Relations

Abs # 223: Identification of genes involved in the water deficit response in Arabidopsis thaliana using gene traps.

Presenter:	Covarrubias, Alejandra A, crobles@ibt.unam.mx
Authors	Covarrubias, Alejandra A (A)   Arrieta-Montiel, Maria P (A)   Vielle-Calzada, Jean P (B)   Arroyo-Rebolledo, Erika  (A)
Affiliations:	(A): Univesrsidad Nacional Autónoma de México (B): CINVESTAV-Unidad Irapuato

Drought is one of the most limiting factors in plant growth and productivity worlwide. To date, several genes involved in the response to water deficit in plants have been identified. However, different mechanisms of adaptation are thought to be involved which makes the response of plants to such a stress a very complex one and much of it still remains to be known. We are performing a screening of transposant lines of Arabidopsis thaliana in order to identify and characterize genes involved in the water deficit response. To date, we have detected several transposant lines in which the expression pattern of the tagged genes changes in response to dehydration. The expression of one of those knock-out genes is confined to the hydathodes, which are vascular structures in the distal parts of the major veins in leaves. The transposant line with this tagged gene, offers a good opportunity to study not only this particular gene but also to get more insights into the function and gene expression under water stress in those particular plant structures. We have also screened for transposant lines whose adaptive response to water limitation is affected. One of those mutants showed a resistance phenotype under dehydration conditions in adult plants, and one more showed a phenotype of resistance to both, salt and ABA during germination. Data on the genetic and phenotypic caracterization of both mutants will be discussed.