Expression data from wheat root

Root foraging strategy of wheat for potassium (K) heterogeneity is based on special gene expressions. Low-K responsive genes, such as peroxidases, mitochondrion, transcription factor activity, calcium ion binding and respiration, up-regulated in Sp. NK rather than in Sp. LK. Methyltransferase activity, protein amino acid phosphorylation, potassium ion transport, protein kinase activity genes were found among down-regulated genes in Sp. LK. We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression underlying wheat root foraging strategy and identified distinct classes of up-regulated and down-regulated genes during this process. Based on the split-root system, wheat roots under K heterogeneity and homogeneity conditions were selected for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays. In order to simulate soil K heterogeneity environment, we used split-root system as test equipment of the present research. Two separated physical spaces, in which different K supply could be performed, were created in this split-root system. Three different K environments were performed as follows: (1) a homogeneous K-deprived condition (C. LK: both compartments had low K), (2) a homogeneous K-replete condition (C. NK: both compartments had normal K), and (3) a heterogeneous split condition (Sp. LK/Sp. NK: one compartment had low K, and the other had normal K).