ESKIMO1 disruption in Arabidopsis alters vascular tissue and impairs water transport.

• Published in: PLoS ONE
• Main Authors: Lefebvre, Valérie, Fortabat, Marie-Noëlle, Ducamp, Aloïse, North, Helen M, Maia-Grondard, Alessandra, Trouverie, Jacques, Boursiac, Yann, Mouille, Gregory, Durand-Tardif, Mylène
• Other Authors: Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-AgroParisTech, Ecophysiologie Végétale, Agronomie et Nutritions (EVA), Université de Caen Normandie (UNICAEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes (BPMP), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2011
• Subjects: Water; abscisic acid; water stress; membrane transport; root; stomata; aquaporin; xylem; [SDV.BV]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Vegetal Biology; eskimo*
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-00593947; https://hal.science/hal-00593947/document; https://hal.science/hal-00593947/file/41793_20110818101442454_1.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0016645

International audience Water economy in agricultural practices is an issue that is being addressed through studies aimed at understanding both plant water-use efficiency (WUE), i.e. biomass produced per water consumed, and responses to water shortage. In the model species Arabidopsis thaliana, the ESKIMO1 (ESK1) gene has been described as involved in freezing, cold and salt tolerance as well as in water economy: esk1 mutants have very low evapo-transpiration rates and high water-use efficiency. In order to establish ESK1 function, detailed characterization of esk1 mutants has been carried out. The stress hormone ABA (abscisic acid) was present at high levels in esk1 compared to wild type, nevertheless, the weak water loss of esk1 was independent of stomata closure through ABA biosynthesis, as combining mutant in this pathway with esk1 led to additive phenotypes. Measurement of root hydraulic conductivity suggests that the esk1 vegetative apparatus suffers water deficit due to a defect in water transport. ESK1 promoter-driven reporter gene expression was observed in xylem and fibers, the vascular tissue responsible for the transport of water and mineral nutrients from the soil to the shoots, via the roots. Moreover, in cross sections of hypocotyls, roots and stems, esk1 xylem vessels were collapsed. Finally, using Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, severe chemical modifications of xylem cell wall composition were highlighted in the esk1 mutants. Taken together our findings show that ESK1 is necessary for the production of functional xylem vessels, through its implication in the laying down of secondary cell wall components.