Differential Expression Analysis of Phytohormone-Related Genes of Korean Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i>) in Response to Preharvest Sprouting and Abscisic Acid (ABA)

• Main Authors: Yong Jin Lee, Sang Yong Park, Dae Yeon Kim, Jae Yoon Kim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: wheat <i>(Triticum aestivum)</i>; pre-harvest sprouting (PHS); phytohormones; differentially expressed genes (DEGs); transcriptomes
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/8/3562

Preharvest sprouting (PHS) is a key global issue in production and end-use quality of cereals, particularly in regions where the rainfall season overlaps the harvest. To investigate transcriptomic changes in genes affected by PHS-induction and ABA-treatment, RNA-seq analysis was performed in two wheat cultivars that differ in PHS tolerance. A total of 123 unigenes related to hormone metabolism and signaling for abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and cytokinin were identified and 1862 of differentially expressed genes were identified and divided into 8 groups by transcriptomic analysis. DEG analysis showed the majority of genes were categorized in sugar related processes, which interact with ABA signaling in PHS tolerant cultivar under PHS-induction. Thus, genes related to ABA are key regulators of dormancy and germination. Our results give insight into global changes in expression of plant hormone related genes in response to PHS.