Abstract
Carbonate-rich soils limit plant performance and crop production.
Previously, local adaptation to carbonated soils was detected in wild
Arabidopsis thaliana accessions, allowing the selection of two
demes with contrasting phenotypes: A1 (carbonate tolerant, c+) and T6
(carbonate sensitive, c-). Here, A1 (c+) and T6
(c-) seedlings were grown hydroponically under control
(pH 5.9) and bicarbonate conditions (10 mM NaHCO 3, pH
8.3) to obtain ionomic profiles and conduct transcriptomic analysis. In
parallel, A1 (c+) and T6 (c-) parental
lines and their progeny were cultivated on carbonated soil to evaluate
fitness and segregation patterns. To understand the genetic architecture
beyond the contrasted phenotypes a bulk segregant analysis sequencing
(BSA-Seq) was performed. Transcriptomics revealed 208 root and 2503 leaf
differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in A1 (c+)
vs T6 (c-) comparison under bicarbonate stress,
mainly involved in iron, nitrogen and carbon metabolism, hormones, and
glycosylates biosynthesis. Based on A1 (c+) and T6
(c-) genome contrasts and BSA-Seq analysis, 69 genes
were associated with carbonate tolerance. Comparative analysis of
genomics and transcriptomics discovered a final set of 18 genes involved
in bicarbonate stress responses that may have relevant roles in soil
carbonate tolerance.