Analysis of transcriptional responses in root tissue of bread wheat landrace (Triticum aestivum L.) reveals drought avoidance mechanisms under water scarcity

PLoS One. 2019 Mar 6;14(3):e0212671. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212671. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

In this study, high-throughput sequencing (RNA-Seq) was utilized to evaluate differential expression of transcripts and their related genes involved in response to terminal drought in root tissues of bread wheat landrace (L-82) and drought-sensitive genotype (Marvdasht). Subsets of 460 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in drought-tolerant genotype and 236 in drought-sensitive genotype were distinguished and functionally annotated with 105 gene ontology (GO) terms and 77 metabolic pathways. Transcriptome profiling of drought-resistant genotype "L-82" showed up-regulation of genes mostly involved in Oxidation-reduction process, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, abiotic stress response, transferase activity and heat shock proteins. On the other hand, down-regulated genes mostly involved in signaling, oxidation-reduction process, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, auxin-responsive protein and lipid metabolism. We hypothesized that the drought tolerance in "L-82" was a result of avoidance strategies. Up-regulation of genes related to the deeper root system and adequate hydraulic characteristics to allow water uptake under water scarcity confirms our hypothesis. The transcriptomic sequences generated in this study provide information about mechanisms of acclimation to drought in the selected bread wheat landrace, "L-82", and will help us to unravel the mechanisms underlying the ability of crops to reproduce and keep its productivity even under drought stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acclimatization*
  • Crops, Agricultural / genetics
  • Crops, Agricultural / metabolism*
  • Dehydration
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Plant Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Stress, Physiological*
  • Triticum / genetics
  • Triticum / metabolism*

Substances

  • Plant Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Iran (grant number 451M). http://www.nigeb.ac.ir/. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.