| Abstract Detail
Integrative Plant Physiology Boggs, Julian [1], Bibee, Katherine [1], Heschel, Shane [2]. Interactions between drought responses and phytochrome pathways. Drought sensing and response are crucial to optimizing fitness in weedy annuals. To further understand the pathways that mediate drought-response plasticity we examined interactions between phytochrome and drought stress with Arabidopsis thaliana. Previous studies have suggested that phytochrome may mediate germination pathways through abscisic acid, linking the light-sensing hormone to drought response. Phytochrome mutants were grown under moist and dry soil conditions in Percival chambers. Phytochromes A, B, and E influenced stomatal conductance of drought-stressed plants in a web of inhibition and promotion. It is clear that the three phytochromes are present in drought-response pathways and loss of phytochrome function can have a pronounced effect on the strength of drought response in A. thaliana. Phytochrome-mediated pathways reduce aboveground biomass in moist conditions and increase aboveground biomass in drought conditions, indicating that phytochrome may mediate drought-avoidance strategies. PHYE may actually confer negative fitness under drought stress but evolutionarily the gene was conserved, likely due to its importance to germination under cold conditions.
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1 - Colorado College, Biology
2 - Colorado College, Biology, 14 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, CO, 80903, USA
Keywords:
Phytochrome
drought stress.
Presentation Type: Plant Biology Abstract
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P04007
Abstract ID:753 |
