Details for Incomplete transfer of accessory loci influencing SbMATE expression underlies genetic background effects for aluminum tolerance in sorghum

Melo JO, Lana UGP, Piñeros MA, Alves VMC, Guimarães CT, Liu J, Zheng Y, Zhong S, Fei Z, Maron LG, Schaffert RE, Kochian LV and Magalhães JV (2013). Incomplete transfer of accessory loci influencing SbMATE expression underlies genetic background effects for aluminum tolerance in sorghum. The Plant Journal 73(2):276–288. (DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12029). (G3007.04).

Impaired root development caused by aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major cause of grain yield reduction in crops cultivated on acid soils, which are widespread worldwide. In sorghum, the major Al-tolerance locus, AltSB, is due to the function of SbMATE, which is an Al-activated root citrate transporter. Here we performed a molecular and physiological characterization of various AltSB donors and near-isogenic lines harboring various AltSB alleles. We observed a partial transfer of Al tolerance from the parents to the near-isogenic lines that was consistent across donor alleles, emphasizing the occurrence of strong genetic background effects related to AltSB.

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