The phenotypes caused by loss-of-function mutation of rice chloride channel genes

Abstract

The ionic transport systems have important roles on the ionic homeostasis in the cells under the salt stress. We hardly know about intracellular behavior of chloride ions, a counter ion for sodium ions, under the high salt condition. It was reported that AtCLC-a and -c play a role in controlling the intracellular nitrate status in Arabidopsis. However, other functions were not known. We investigated about the two chloride channel genes, OsCLC-1 and OsCLC-2in rice. To assess the function of rice chloride channel genes OsCLC-1 and -2, we isolated deletion mutants from a panel of rice mutants produced by the insertion of a retrotransposon, Tos17. clc-1 and clc-2 had slightly reduces root length compared with wild type. Therefore, we investigate the morphology of roots from clc-1, clc-2, and the double mutant of them in detail.