Researchers from China National Rice Research Institute and partners have
identified that the Trichome Birefringence (TBR) gene allows plants to
handle extra zinc in the soil.



Zinc is an important micronutrient that can become toxic to living cells
when present in excess. Therefore, plants have developed mechanisms that
will help them tolerate zinc toxicity. Plants absorb zinc on their cell
walls through a process called pectin methylesterification. In this process,
the structure of the cell wall's pectin molecules were altered to store
additional zinc.



Scientists conducted genome-wide association studies to identify genetic
loci that play a role in zinc tolerance of plants. Among 21 significant
associated loci, the team detected that Trichome Birefringence (TBR) is the
main gene that modulates pectin methylesterification. When the TBR gene is
active, there is increased zinc storage in the plants' cell walls. Their
findings may help researchers develop crops that are more zinc tolerant.



[www.nature.com]