Transcriptomic and anatomic profiling reveal germination process of different wheat varieties in response to waterlogging stress

ABSTRACT: Background: Waterlogging was one of the most serious abiotic stresses in wheat-growing regions of China. There were great differences in waterlogging tolerance among different wheat varieties, and the mechanism of waterlogging tolerance of wheat seeds during germination was unclear. Methods: In order to reveal the adaptability of wheat to waterlogging stress during germination, we analyzed the germination rate and anatomical structure of three wheat seeds, ‘Zhoumai 22’, ‘Bainong 207’ and ‘Bainong 607’. At the same time, Illumina sequencing technology was used to determine the transcriptome of these three wheat varieties during germination. Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference between the germination rate of ‘Bainong 207’ after 3 days of waterlogging treatment and that of the control seeds. However, under waterlogging stress, the degree of emulsification and degradation of endosperm cells was higher than that of the control treatment, and starch granules in endosperm were significantly reduced. Transcriptome data were obtained from seed samples (a total of 18 samples) of three wheat varieties under waterlogging and control treatment. A total of 2,775 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by comprehensive analysis. In addition, by analyzing the correlation between the expression levels of DEGs and seed germination rates in three wheat varieties under waterlogging stress, it was found that the relative expression levels of 563 and 398 genes were positively and negatively correlated with the germination rate of wheat seeds, respectively. The GO and KEGG analysis found that the difference in waterlogging tolerance of the three wheat varieties was related to the abundance of key genes involved in the glycolysis pathway, the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway, and the lactose metabolism pathway. The ethanol dehydrogenase (ADH) gene in the endosperm of ‘Bainong 607’ was immediately induced after a short period of waterlogging, and the energy provided by glycolysis pathway enabled the seeds of ‘Bainong 607’ to germinate as early as possible, while the expression level of AP2/ERF transcription factor was up-regulated to further enhance its waterlogging tolerance. Conclusions: In general, this study provided a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which different wheat varieties respond to waterlogging stress during germination.

ORGANISM(S): Triticum aestivum

PROVIDER: GSE144554 | GEO | 2020/01/31

REPOSITORIES: GEO