How copper stress affects nitrogen uptake by Arabidopsis

• Grant number: 15/00720-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: July 21, 2015
• End date: April 20, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Dirceu de Mattos Junior
• Grantee: Franz Walter Rieger Hippler
• Supervisor: Lorraine Elizabeth Williams
• Host Institution: Instituto Agronômico (IAC). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Southampton, England
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/13917-7 - Copper deficiency and toxicity in Citrus: integrating nutrient absorption and plant nutritional status, BP.DR

Abstract

Copper (Cu) sprays have increased in citrus orchards in Brazil to control the spread of the citrus canker, a disease caused by bacteria infections. Discussions about this mostly focus on increased cost of fruit production resulting from increased use of Cu-containing fungicides and crop losses caused by low-quality fruit yield and fruit drop in affected orchards. However, less attention is paid to the direct effects of excess Cu on the horticultural performance of trees. Results have shown that Cu toxicity enhances oxidative stress and affects nitrogen (N) metabolism of trees. To extend our knowledge on this matter, we propose a study developed abroad (BEPE) with Arabidopsis to elucidate if excess Cu has an inhibitory effect on proton pump activity required for nitrate uptake by inhibiting gene expression (AHA1 and AHA2). Alternatively or additionally, excess Cu may inhibit nitrate transporter-gene expression [CHL1 (NRT1.1), NRT2.1 and NRT2.2] thus reducing nitrate uptake at the root plasma membrane. Our strategy to study this problem is to grow plants under two levels of Cu (adequate: 0.16 ¼M or excessive: 5.0 ¼M) and determine selected molecular traits that relate to the N uptake efficiency of plants. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

HIPPLER, FRANZ W. R.; MATTOS-JR, DIRCEU; BOARETTO, RODRIGO M.; WILLIAMS, LORRAINE E.. Copper excess reduces nitrate uptake by Arabidopsis roots with specific effects on gene expression. Journal of Plant Physiology, v. 228, p. 158-165, SEP 2018. (12/13917-7, 15/00720-9)