The determinants of salinity tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.)
PhD ceremony: Ms. F.Z. Mostafa Ali, 11.00 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen
Title: The determinants of salinity tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.)
Promotor(s): prof.dr. J.T.M. Elzenga
Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences
In her thesis Fatma Zaki Mostafa Ali has compared between the behaviour of three maize cultivars (SR15, Arizona 8601 and Delitop) which differ in their tolerance to salt stress. She proved that maize has different strategies for growth under salinity, which is either avoidance or survival. The Microelectrode ion Flux estimation (MIFE) technique is a unique tool which helped in identifying the different cation fluxes associated with salt stress, at tissue, cellular and for the first time at vacuolar level and therefore make it possible to determine the salt tolerance level between cultivars. A correlation was found by Mostafa Ali to link the dynamics of K+ (measured from root surface) and H+ (measured from protoplasts) transport in the tested cultivars, which suggest the role of the H+-Atpase in maintaining the plasma membrane charge stability. She modified the MIFE system to make it possible to study transport mechanisms on the vacuole level, Arizona 8601 exhibited a unique salt tolerant property which is vacuolar Na+/H+ anitport activity, this allows the plant to survive the high salt concentration. Also Mostafa Ali describes in her thesis how Arbuscular Mycorrhiza was able to improve the performance of maize under salt stress, and to increase the efflux of proton form the maize root surface. As a general conclusion, the determinants of salt tolerance in maize are genotypic dependent, which is summarized in the ability of the cultivar to tolerate either the ionic/osmotic phase of salt stress. In addition, the MIFE system can be a fast and reliable screening tool for salt tolerance in plants.
Last modified: | 13 March 2020 01.12 a.m. |
More news
-
29 April 2024
Tactile sensors
Every two weeks, UG Makers puts the spotlight on a researcher who has created something tangible, ranging from homemade measuring equipment for academic research to small or larger products that can change our daily lives. That is how UG...
-
29 April 2024
Behind the scenes: how UG and Hanze UAS students are jointly developing a Mars rover
This year the students of the Makercie team are participating in the physical edition of the European Rover Challenge in Poland. Read more about the team and the collaboration between the RUG and Hanze UAS here.
-
23 April 2024
Nine MSCA Doctoral Network grants for FSE researchers
Nine researchers of the Faculty of Science and Engineering have received a Horizon Europe Marie Sklodowska Curie Doctoral Network grant.