Effects of varied potassıum nutrition on cellulose synthase a 4(cesa4) gene expressıon in arabıdopsis thaliana plants

Plants require a regular nutrient supply to sustain their growth and development. Withoutadequate mineral nutrition, they cannot perform essential metabolic and physiologicalfunctions. One of the most critical nutrients for plants is potassium (K). Potassium is anessential mineral element required for many physiological and biochemical processes includingproduction and transportation of photoassimilates, water and nutrient uptake (in particularnitrogen), and stress mitigation. When plants face K deficiency, they often manifest symptomslike leaf edge yellowing or browning, decreased turgor pressure, and eventual wilting.Increasing number of evidence is available suggesting that K has great contributions tobiosynthesis of cellulose and related compounds. The Cellulose Synthase A 4 (CESA4) geneholds significant sway in cellulose biosynthesis. In many plant species, cellulose biosynthesisplays a critical role in maintaining axial tension and geometric rigidity, ensuring the uprightposture of stems, leaves, and branches. The primary objective of this study was to elucidate theintricate relationship between the CESA4 gene and the K nutritional status of plants. Variousmorphological and physiological tests were conducted on the experimental plants, includingbiomass measurement, shoot elongation analysis, and rosette size measurement. Elementalanalysis was realized by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) to evaluate mineral nutritional status of plants. Real-time quantitative PCR (RTqPCR)was utilized to compare gene activity levels. Differential expression patterns of theCESA4 gene were discerned in Arabidopsis thaliana accessions subjected to varied Ktreatments from very low to adequate levels. Early flowering ecotypes exhibited higher CESA4expression under K deficiency conditions. Examination of potassium accumulation in theseplants carrying many single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CESA4 gene revealed amarked accumulation of potassium in the inflorescence meristems of plants grown underpotassium deficiency. High levels of CESA4 expression were then detected in low K tissues.Building upon these findings, the research delved into functionally characterizing the CESA4gene by employing novel gene-editing techniques. The CRISPR/Cas9 system was meticulouslyengineered to effectuate CESA4 gene knockout via point mutation. It was administered usingthe floral dipping transformation methodology. This innovative approach harnessedpolyethyleneimine-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (PEI-SWNT) as apromising gene delivery nanovector. The anticipated outcome of this analysis is to enrich thescientific discourse surrounding the possible relations of the CESA4 gene with potassiumnutrition, particularly by shedding light on its unforeseen expression dynamics under potassiumdeficiency.