Gene expression polymorphisms associated with hyperaccumulation of selenium in Symphyotrichum ascendens (Western aster)

Symphyotrichum ascendens is responsible for the selenium poisoning of livestock and wildlife grazing on disturbed soils in the phosphate-mining region of the American Intermountain West. Goals of this study were to determine gene expression profiles and gene functions associated with selenate uptake, partitioning, and growth in S. ascendens. Plant growth and gene expression profiles were characterized using an RNAseq approach from roots and shoots of plants grown at selenium concentrations of 0.0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mM from hydroponic solution. Selenium uptake increased with increasing solution concentration, with a leaf concentration reaching 3.6 % at the highest treatment concentration, which would be highly toxic to livestock and wildlife.

Symphyotrichum ascendens 责任于美国内陆西部磷矿开采区受扰动土壤上放牧的家畜和野生动物所发生的硒中毒现象。本研究旨在确定与 S. ascendens 中硒酸盐的吸收、分配及生长相关的基因表达谱和基因功能。通过RNA测序技术，对种植于营养液中的植物根部和茎部在硒浓度为0.0、0.1、0.25、0.5和1.0 mM条件下的生长和基因表达谱进行了表征。硒的吸收量随着溶液浓度的增加而增加，在最高处理浓度下，叶片中的硒浓度达到3.6%，对家畜和野生动物具有极高的毒性。