TY - JOUR
T1 - Raman developmental markers in root cell walls are associated with lodging tendency in tef
AU - Diehn, Sabrina
AU - Kirby, Noa
AU - Ben-Zeev, Shiran
AU - Alemu, Muluken Demelie
AU - Saranga, Yehoshua
AU - Elbaum, Rivka
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
PY - 2024/3
Y1 - 2024/3
N2 - Main conclusion: Using Raman micro-spectroscopy on tef roots, we could monitor cell wall maturation in lines with varied genetic lodging tendency. We describe the developing cell wall composition in root endodermis and cylinder tissue. Abstract: Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is an important staple crop in Ethiopia and Eritrea, producing gluten-free and protein-rich grains. However, this crop is not adapted to modern farming practices due to high lodging susceptibility, which prevents the application of mechanical harvest. Lodging describes the displacement of roots (root lodging) or fracture of culms (stem lodging), forcing plants to bend or fall from their vertical position, causing significant yield losses. In this study, we aimed to understand the microstructural properties of crown roots, underlining tef tolerance/susceptibility to lodging. We analyzed plants at 5 and 10 weeks after emergence and compared trellised to lodged plants. Root cross sections from different tef genotypes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, micro-computed tomography, and Raman micro-spectroscopy. Lodging susceptible genotypes exhibited early tissue maturation, including developed aerenchyma, intensive lignification, and lignin with high levels of crosslinks. A comparison between trellised and lodged plants suggested that lodging itself does not affect the histology of root tissue. Furthermore, cell wall composition along plant maturation was typical to each of the tested genotypes independently of trellising. Our results suggest that it is possible to select lines that exhibit slow maturation of crown roots. Such lines are predicted to show reduction in lodging and facilitate mechanical harvest.
AB - Main conclusion: Using Raman micro-spectroscopy on tef roots, we could monitor cell wall maturation in lines with varied genetic lodging tendency. We describe the developing cell wall composition in root endodermis and cylinder tissue. Abstract: Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is an important staple crop in Ethiopia and Eritrea, producing gluten-free and protein-rich grains. However, this crop is not adapted to modern farming practices due to high lodging susceptibility, which prevents the application of mechanical harvest. Lodging describes the displacement of roots (root lodging) or fracture of culms (stem lodging), forcing plants to bend or fall from their vertical position, causing significant yield losses. In this study, we aimed to understand the microstructural properties of crown roots, underlining tef tolerance/susceptibility to lodging. We analyzed plants at 5 and 10 weeks after emergence and compared trellised to lodged plants. Root cross sections from different tef genotypes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, micro-computed tomography, and Raman micro-spectroscopy. Lodging susceptible genotypes exhibited early tissue maturation, including developed aerenchyma, intensive lignification, and lignin with high levels of crosslinks. A comparison between trellised and lodged plants suggested that lodging itself does not affect the histology of root tissue. Furthermore, cell wall composition along plant maturation was typical to each of the tested genotypes independently of trellising. Our results suggest that it is possible to select lines that exhibit slow maturation of crown roots. Such lines are predicted to show reduction in lodging and facilitate mechanical harvest.
KW - Cell wall
KW - Crown roots
KW - Endodermis
KW - Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA)
KW - Lignin
KW - Lodging
KW - Multivariate curve resolution (MCR)
KW - Principal component analysis (PCA)
KW - Raman micro-spectroscopy
KW - Tef
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85183748554&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00425-023-04298-7
DO - 10.1007/s00425-023-04298-7
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C2 - 38294548
AN - SCOPUS:85183748554
SN - 0032-0935
VL - 259
JO - Planta
JF - Planta
IS - 3
M1 - 54
ER -