Natural variation at the FRD3 MATE transporter locus reveals cross-talk between Fe homeostasis and Zn tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Zinc (Zn) is essential for the optimal growth of plants but is toxic if present in excess, so Zn homeostasis needs to be finely tuned. Understanding Zn homeostasis mechanisms in plants will help in the development of innovative approaches for the phytoremediation of Zn-contaminated sites. In this study, Zn tolerance quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified by analyzing differences in the Bay-0 and Shahdara accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Diversity analysis of the response to Zn within the Arabidopsis thaliana species revealed a low contribution of Zn translocation to Zn tolerance and a new role for Zn in lateral root development.

This work reports the first characterization of the natural variation of Zn tolerance and accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Root and shoot growth as well as Zn content were determined for 27 A. thaliana accessions grown in vitro in presence of Zn concentrations ranging from 1 to 250 µm.