Identification of genes involved in salt removal ability in the fundamental parenchyma cells in rice leaf sheath

Leaf sheath of rice has the ability to remove salt (sodium and chloride ions) from xylem vessels and sequester salt into the fundamental parenchyma cells. However, it is not yet known how salt is removed from xylem vessels, transferred to the central fundamental parenchyma cells and sequestrated into vacuole in rice leaf sheath. Therefore, the objective is to elucidate gene expression profiles in the central parenchyma cells in rice leaf sheath grown under normal and saline conditions in comparison to peripheral tissues including vasculature, and to identify genes involved in the removal ability of sodium and chloride ions in the fundamental parenchyma cells in the rice leaf sheath.