ARS | Publication request: Boron Stress and Boron Tissue Distribution in Arbidopsis thaliana and Pelargonium X Hortorum

Submitted to: Plant Biology Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 4, 2006
Publication Date: August 7, 2006
Citation: Yu, F., Pitchey, D., Frantz, J., Heckathorn, S., Gray, J. 2006. Boron Stress and Boron Tissue Distribution in Arbidopsis thaliana and Pelargonium X Hortorum. American Society for Plant Biology, Boston, MA. p. 159.

Technical Abstract: The micronutrient boron is essential for plant growth and development. Deficient or excessive levels of this micronutrient result in the formation of growth defects that reduce yield in crop plants and result in discarding of horticultural plants. To study the responses of plants to altered boron supply, we developed a hydroponic system for Arabidopsis thaliana in which a healthy root system can be maintained. We describe this hydroponic system and how it may be easily adapted for screening of nutrient uptake mutants in this model plant species. Using this system, we report the symptoms that develop in Arabidopsis in response to excess or deficient levels of boron. Arabidopsis plants deprived of boron (0.3 mM) exhibit stunted flower development and reduced silique growth due to the reduced fertility and reduced seed set of the flowers. Plants exposed to excess levels of boron (1 or 3 mM) exhibited a chlorosis of the leaves and also a reduced fecundity. In order to understand the general requirements for boron during plant growth, we determined the levels of boron in different root and aerial tissues over a period of four weeks. Our results will provide a better basis for the comparison of our boron study with various crop plant species. We performed a comparison between the uptake and distribution of boron in Arabidopsis and the horticultural species Pelargonium X hortorum (cvs. Nittany Lion Red and Patriot Peach) which is the leading bedding plant produced in midwest greenhouses. We will report on the comparison of requirements for boron between these two dicot species. Our findings are of general relevance to growers that encounter water supplies with high or low levels of this important micronutrient.