Selection and validation of reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR of Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb under abiotic stresses

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 28;17(4):e0267126. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267126. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb is the main species of coniferous and broadleaved mixed forests in northeast and north China, which has high ornamental, economic, and ecological value. The appropriate reference genes must be selected for quantitative real-time PCR to reveal the molecular mechanisms of stress responses and their contribution to breeding of Q. mongolica. In the present study, we chose 11 candidate reference genes (TUA, CYP18, HIS4, RPS13, ACT97, TUB1, UBQ10, UBC5, SAND, PP2A, and SAMDC) and used four programs (GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder) to assess the expression stability of the above genes in roots, stems, and leaves under five abiotic stress factors (cold, salt, drought, weak light, and heavy metal). The findings revealed that under various experimental environments, the most stable genes were different; CYP18, ACT97, and RPS13 ranked the highest under most experimental environments. Moreover, two genes induced by stress, CMO and P5CS2, were chosen to demonstrate the reliability of the selected reference genes in various tissues under various stress conditions. Our research provides a significant basis for subsequent gene function studies of Q. mongolica.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genes, Plant
  • Plant Breeding
  • Quercus* / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Stress, Physiological / genetics

Grants and funding

This research was funded by National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant Numbers 2017YFD0600602). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.