Introducing the promising salt tolerance involved genes in rice based on the microarray data analysis

Rice is a glycophyte plant and salinity stress is one of the most important obstacles for the rice production. Understanding complex molecular mechanisms of plant response to salt stress is necessary for developing salt tolerant rice. In this study, microarray data analysis was used for identification of salt stress responsive genes. By analysis of 9 microarray data sets, 13798 differentially expressed genes were found. Gene ontology analysis of up-regulated genes in the salt tolerant genotypes showed that transcription factors enriched against rice genetic background. Based on the hub analysis results, most of the key genes were protein kinases, for example CPK10 and PFK. Amongst the transcription factors, GCN5 identified as the key gene in the hub analysis in this study. Totally, 10 hub genes were identified which belong to regulatory factors, transporters and signal transduction effectors. We hope that the obtained results would be beneficial toward developing the salt tolerant rice.