Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026
11:09
A Simple Protocol for Mapping the Plant Root System Architecture Traits
Published on: February 10, 2023
3.8K
The miR172c-NNC1 module modulates root plastic development in response to salt in soybean
Zulfiqar Ali Sahito1,2,3, Lixiang Wang1,2, Zhengxi Sun4
1State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China.
BMC Plant Biology
|December 2, 2017
Summary
Soybean roots adapt to salinity via the miR172c-NNC1 module. This microRNA and its target gene regulate root salt tolerance, offering insights into plant stress responses.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Plant roots exhibit plasticity in response to high salinity.
- The molecular mechanisms governing root developmental plasticity under stress are not fully understood.
- The miR172c-NNC1 module was previously implicated in soybean-rhizobial symbiosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of miR172c in soybean root response to salt stress.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanism of root salt tolerance involving miR172c and its target NNC1.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of miR172c expression under salt stress.
- Generation and analysis of transgenic soybean roots with altered miR172c and NNC1 levels.
- Assessment of root sensitivity to salt stress in transgenic lines.
Main Results:
- miR172c expression is significantly induced by salt stress in soybean.
- Overexpression of miR172c enhances root salt tolerance, while its knockdown reduces tolerance.
- The target gene NNC1 is downregulated by salt stress and influences root salt sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- The miR172c-NNC1 module plays a critical role in soybean root tolerance to salt stress.
- This regulatory module provides a molecular basis for root developmental plasticity under saline conditions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:02Responses to Salt Stress
14.7K
Salt stress—which can be triggered by high salt concentrations in a plant’s environment—can significantly affect plant growth and crop production by influencing photosynthesis and the absorption of water and nutrients.
14.7K
02:35Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
24.4K
Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the...
24.4K
01:20Tonicity in Plants
33.6K
Plant cells maintain appropriate osmotic balance in extreme conditions. For instance, plants in dry environments store water in vacuoles, limit the opening of their stoma, and have thick, waxy cuticles to prevent unnecessary water loss. Some species of plants that live in salty environments store salt in their roots. As a result, water osmosis occurs in the root from the surrounding soil.
Tonicity
Tonicity describes the capacity of a cell to lose or gain water depending on the solute...
Tonicity
Tonicity describes the capacity of a cell to lose or gain water depending on the solute...
33.6K
01:25Cell Signaling in Plants
6.3K
Plant cells communicate to coordinate their cycle of growth, flowering and fruiting, and activities in roots, shoots, and leaves in response to the changing environmental conditions. Plant signaling is distinct from animal signaling. Plants primarily utilize enzyme-linked receptors, whereas the largest class of cell-surface receptors in animals are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Unlike animals, receptor tyrosine kinases are rare in plants. Instead, plants have a diverse class of...
6.3K
03:02Primary and Secondary Growth in Roots and Shoots
60.8K
Vascular plants, which account for over 90% of the Earth’s vegetation, all undergo primary growth—which lengthens roots and shoots. Many land plants, notably woody plants, also undergo secondary growth—which thickens roots and shoots.
60.8K
02:34Water and Mineral Acquisition
35.9K
Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.
35.9K