[Seminar] Dissecting the genetic architecture of salinity tolerance using high-throughput phenotyping

Seminar

Title: Dissecting the genetic architecture of salinity tolerance using high-throughput phenotyping

Speaker: Sónia Negrão

Affiliation: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Host: Margarida Oliveira

Abstract:

By 2050 the world's population will reach 9.1 billion, and food demand is expected to increase by 70% (FAO, 2009). To answer this “Nine billion question,” it is imperative to improve the interdisciplinary nature of crop production. Our approach examines plants’ temporal responses using unmanned aerial vehicles (AKA “drones”) under field conditions, and high-throughput phenotyping platforms under controlled conditions to understand the genetic mechanisms underlying plants’ adaptation to changing environments. In this seminar, we will discuss the use of high-throughput phenotyping, genomics, and association mapping to advance our knowledge on the genetic mechanisms underlying stress adaptation in crops such as rice and tomatoes.

To understand the genetic mechanisms underlying salinity stress, we are focusing on the natural diversity of rice, the most salt-sensitive cereal, and the resilient Solanum pimpinellifolium, the closest wild relative of the cultivated tomato. We performed our experiments at The Plant Accelerator®, a high-throughput phenotyping platform (HTP) that provides non-destructive quantitative measurements for plant development over time. The use of HTP enabled us to obtain multiple measurements throughout time, namely plant growth and architecture, as well as water loss under control and stress conditions. The wealth of data resulting from daily measurements is a major bottleneck for further analysis. To overcome this challenge we are currently exploring new methods to analyze the collected data and to perform genetic analysis to identify genetic signatures in response to salinity stress.

To investigate the effects of salinity stress on yield and yield components, we are conducting field trials for rice and S. pimpinellifolium in collaboration with AfricaRice (Senegal) and King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia), respectively. In this seminar, latest data will be presented, and the linking results from controlled and field conditions will be discussed. The overall goal is to develop crops with increased tolerance to salinity.