A genetic and molecular approach to identify transcription factors controlling maize root adaptive response to water deficit

Water stress is recognized as the most severe abiotic stress for agricultural productivity. Root traits play a key role in tolerance to water stress but have largely been neglected in selection schemes. In order to identify the maize genetic bases of the root adaptive responses to water deficit (WD), we used a MAGIC mapping population of 400 lines based on the intercrossing of 16 genotypes. The fine phenotyping of the different genotypes was performed under contrasting water supply on the French root phenotyping platform (4PMI). On the 16 founder genotypes, in addition of phenotyping, we sampled different root tissues daily over 7 days after irrigation arrest and performed RNAseq. On the ba…