Expression analysis of some candidate genes involved in the male sterility of wheat under drought stress during meiosis

Defects in pollen carbohydrate metabolism plays an important role in inducing male sterility in wheat plants under drought stress. In order to examine the expression of four genes (Inv1, Inv3, Raftin a and AGP) involved in carbohydrate metabolism under drought condition in two contrasting cultivars, a factorial experiment was established via randomized complete block design. Cultivars (Dezful 10/ Shiraz) were selected as the first factor and drought at meiosis stage (control/stress) as the second factor. After preparation of anther samples at meiosis stage, expression of genes was analyzed through real-time PCR. Expression of Inv, Inv3 Raftin a and AGP genes under drought stress showed no significant change compared to well-watered (control) condition at drought sensitive cultivar (Shiraz) while they significantly increased at the tolerant one (Dezful 10), by 35, 22, 65 and 9.8 fold change respectively. On the other hand, the percentage of decrease in the fertile florets under drought stress in the tolerant cultivar was significantly less than the sensitive one. Based on the achieved results, the tolerance of Dezful 10 to drought stress can be partially due to the induction of starch accumulation related genes. Also, induction of these genes in sensitive cultivars may reduce their male sterility under drought stress, through compensating a normal level of starch accumulation at pollens.