Cereal root proteomics for complementing the mechanistic understanding of plant abiotic stress tolerance
Issue Date
8-2016
Abstract
Cereals are a staple food for four billion people globally with rice, wheat and maize making up 60 % of the energy intake by the world population. Climate change-mediated increase in the extent, frequency and unpredictability of the incidences of abiotic stresses frequently lead to decrease in the yield and grain quality of cereals. Additionally, demographic and socio-economic factors call for increase in the production of quality cereal grains. It is therefore crucial to generate stress tolerant cereal varieties and understand the underlying mechanisms so as to strategize the crop cultivation agro-physiology for long term benefits. Mechanistic understanding of plant responses to stress can best be elucidated through the omics tools and techniques and smart interpretation of their results. Proteomics forms an important aspect of the omics studies in relating the transcriptome to the metabolome. While most cereal proteomics studies dwell on the plants’ overall tolerance strategies, proteomics studies either specifically on roots or comparing root responses to the aerial plant parts under stress have been somewhat limited. Root proteins are relatively difficult to extract and characterize, hence the lag in the identification of stress-specific proteins and transcription factors in the roots. However, with the advancements in protein identification and quantification, several important mechanisms have been determined to be at play during abiotic stresses. Root proteins with significant roles are mainly involved in ROS detoxification, energy metabolism, cell wall metabolism, and disease and defense responses. Plasma membrane proteins, regulators of signal transductions and ion channels also contribute to increased stress tolerance. This review brings together an understanding of stress response established by the proteomic studies on cereal roots. Although intuitive to guess, the differences in proteomic responses of the roots can be very different from the aerial parts and in some cases diametrically opposite. As an integral component of the plants’ aerial parts’ response to stress, root response characteristics are important to be considered in the overall mechanistic understanding and engineering of plant response to stress, either through conventional breeding or modern biotechnological means.
Source or Periodical Title
Agricultural Proteomics Volume 2: Environmental Stresses
Page
19-51
Document Type
Book Chapter
Language
English
Subject
Abiotic, Biotic, Drought, Flooding, Heat, Heavy metal toxicity, Nutrient deficiency, Proteins, Root, Salinity, Stress
Recommended Citation
Trinidad, J.L., Grajo, H.L., Abucay, J.B., Kohli, A. (2016). Cereal Root Proteomics for Complementing the Mechanistic Understanding of Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance. IN: Agricultural Proteomics Volume 2: Environmental Stresses, vol. 2, pp. 19-51. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-43278-6_2.
Identifier
DOI:10.1007/978-3-319-43278-6_2.
Digital Copy
yes