Effect of phosphorus treatment on the regulation of auxin-related genes in the stem base and root of four rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars with different root traits

Rice is an essential food for greater than half of the world population. To face the climate change along with the over-increase in the population, the productivity of crops such as rice should be improved. Phosphorus starvation is one of the critical issues that face many crops including rice. The root system is a vital part that affects the productivity of rice. Root system not only fixes the plant into soil but also it monitors the changes in soil environments such as the presence of stress and it sends the signals for enhancing the acclimation strategies. Because of its presence underground and complexity, few investigations focused on the root system of rice. This study aims at following up the development of new roots and profiling the expression of auxin-related genes in the stem base and root of four rice cultivars. After trimming roots, the seedlings were left to develop new roots for seven days under normal or low phosphorus concentrations to find a relationship between phosphorus starvation and regulation of auxin-related genes. Low phosphorus treatment positively affected the root length of rice cultivars compared to the control. Auxin-related genes were induced at low phosphorus treatment. The study revealed a crosstalk between phosphorus starvation and auxin-related genes. Rice response to different conditions is cultivar-dependent.