Identification of a number of genes with different expression patterns between resistant and susceptible wheat cultivars in response to drought stress by using meta-analysis method

The wheat is one of the most important sources of human food. In production of this product abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, temperature, etc., involved in cultivation. Therefore, identification and evaluation of genes involved in stress resistance in this plant is very importance. Aim of this study was identifying responsive genes to drought and their expression variation in, resistant and susceptible wheat.

 The data available on the NCBI GEO microarray data were collected in 2018. The libraries were belonging to drought resistant and drought susceptible wheat under stress and control conditions. Using meta-analysis, altered genes expressed under stress conditions were identified for each group of cultivars. Significantly expressed altered genes were identified, the aci-reductone-dioxygenase-like protein (ARD) gene was evaluated for laboratory confirmation. Leaf sampling was performed in 4-leaf stage at three times 2, 4 and 7 days after stress with a control sample with three biological replications. RNA extraction from leaf samples was performed using RNx ™ -plus extraction solution and Real time PCR reaction using specific primers of d ARD gene.

Among differential expressed genes of resistant cultivars, transcription factors genes were Myb3, ethylene responsive 5a, MIKC-type MADS-box WM24B and salinity inducible ERF4 and in sensitive cultivars, transcription factors such as WRKY15, MADS-box TaAGL8, WRKY39 and Myb have increased expression. By identifying the genes and transcription factors mentioned and changing their expression, wheat cultivars can tolerate drought stress. Real time PCR results of ARD Gene for 6o4 and Sundor, drought resistant and drought susceptible wheat varieties was consistent with the results of the meta-analysis and it confirmed the result.

 According to gene expression results and other outcomes of metanalysis in this study, an effective step can be taken in predicting drought resistance and susceptibility in different wheat cultivars.