Expression of Stress-Responsive Genes in Wheat (Triticum Aestivum) and its Progenitors Under Heat Stress

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Alexandria, 21545, Egypt

Abstract

Hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum, AABBDD) had developed from tetraploid and diploid progenitors with different genomic background. During evolution, changes in genome organization, gene expression, and genomic interactions occur. Real time PCR was employed to disclose changes in gene expression of three abiotic induced genes (DREB2, NAC6D, HSP17) in T. aestivum and four of its progenitors which had contributed in its development including Triticum turgidum (AABB), Triticum monococcum (AA), Aegilops spltoides (BB), and Aegilops taushii (DD) with different ploidy levels. Results showed that the three genes presented wide variations between T. aestivum and its progenitors as well as among its progenitors. Results suggested that T. aestivum could have inherited the high expression pattern of DREB2 from its progenitor A. speltoids, inherited its expression pattern of NAC6D form T. turgidum and/or A. taushii. The high expression pattern of HSP17 in T. aestivum could have been inherited from A. speltoides and/or T. turgidum. The obtained results support the notion that wheat progenitors have contributed in the gene expression profile of the hexaploid wheat. Results of this study will help detection of important genes in wheat progenitors that could be introduced into breeding programs for devolving new wheat varieties with desired characteristics.     

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