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XB-ART-45747
Nat Biotechnol 2012 Mar 11;304:360-4. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2120.
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Wheat grain yield on saline soils is improved by an ancestral Na⁺ transporter gene.

Munns R , James RA , Xu B , Athman A , Conn SJ , Jordans C , Byrt CS , Hare RA , Tyerman SD , Tester M , Plett D , Gilliham M .


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The ability of wheat to maintain a low sodium concentration ([Na(+)]) in leaves correlates with improved growth under saline conditions. This trait, termed Na(+) exclusion, contributes to the greater salt tolerance of bread wheat relative to durum wheat. To improve the salt tolerance of durum wheat, we explored natural diversity in shoot Na(+) exclusion within ancestral wheat germplasm. Previously, we showed that crossing of Nax2, a gene locus in the wheat relative Triticum monococcum into a commercial durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum var. Tamaroi) reduced its leaf [Na(+)] (ref. 5). Here we show that a gene in the Nax2 locus, TmHKT1;5-A, encodes a Na(+)-selective transporter located on the plasma membrane of root cells surrounding xylem vessels, which is therefore ideally localized to withdraw Na(+) from the xylem and reduce transport of Na(+) to leaves. Field trials on saline soils demonstrate that the presence of TmHKT1;5-A significantly reduces leaf [Na(+)] and increases durum wheat grain yield by 25% compared to near-isogenic lines without the Nax2 locus.

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Species referenced: Xenopus laevis

References [+] :
Byrt, HKT1;5-like cation transporters linked to Na+ exclusion loci in wheat, Nax2 and Kna1. 2007, Pubmed