Project description:Brachypodium distachyon as an annual species that colonises broken ground is a highly appropriate model to define drought tolerance mechanisms. We have previously identified accessions exhibiting drought tolerance, high susceptibility and intermediate tolerance to drought; respectively, ABR8, KOZ1 and ABR4, from a screen of 138 genotypes. To define the mechanisms of tolerance, the responses to drought were assessed using transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches. Analysis of RNA-seq before and following drought suggested relatively few differentially expressed genes in ABR8. Linking these to gene ontology (GO) terms revealed an enrichment for biological processes related to “regulated stress response”, “plant cell wall” and “oxidative stress”. Interestingly, drought tolerance also appeared to correlate with pre-existing differences in gene expression linked to GO terms associated with the cell wall. These included glycoside hydrolases involved in cell wall remodelling, pectin methylesterases, expansins and a pectin acetylesterase. Metabolomic assessments of the same samples also indicated few statistically significant changes in ABR8 with drought. Instead, pre-existing differences in the cell-wall associated metabolites appeared to correlate with drought tolerance. Our data suggests two different modes/levels at which cell wall characteristics can play a role in conferring drought tolerance: (i) an active response mode/level which involves stress induced changes in cell wall features to help the plant cope with drought and (ii) an intrinsic mode in which innate differences in cell wall composition and architecture between genotypes are important in determining tolerance to drought stress. Both modes seem to contribute to the drought tolerance of ABR8. Identification of the exact mechanisms through which the cell wall confers drought tolerance will be important to fully exploit the contribution of the cell wall in the development of drought tolerant cereals and other grasses.

Project description:Drought is one of the most important environmental fluctuations affecting tree growth and survival. Therefore, understanding of physiological and transcriptomic responses of trees to this stress factor will make important contributions to forest health and productivity. Here, we report comparative physiological and microarray based transcriptome analysis between drought resistant (N.62.191) and drought-sensitive (N.03.368.A) black poplar genotypes under well-watered (WWP), moderate drought (MD), severe drought (SD) and post drought re-watering (PDR) conditions. In the study, sensitive genotype exhibited a drought escape strategy with lower leaf water potential, higher reactive oxygen production, complete leaf abscission and subsequent terminal shoot necrosis under drought stress. On the other hand, resistant genotype had a dehydration tolerance indicating highly delayed leaf abscission under drought and fast growing capacity during re-watering conditions. Gene ontology enrichment analysis attributed drought susceptibility of black poplar to significant up-regulation of genes functional in transcription regulation (AP2/ERF, NAC and WRKY), cell wall modification (Expansins), fatty acid metabolism (enoyl-ACP reductase, lipid transport protein particle), protein degradation (endopeptidases), ethylene synthesis (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate) and riboflavin synthesis (GTP cyclohydrolase II) under drought stress. Transcriptomic comparison indicated significant down-regulation of photosynthesis, electron transport and carbohydrate metabolism related genes under drought stress in sensitive genotype. Although, similar reduction in carbohydrate metabolism was also recorded for resistant genotype, genes related with photosynthesis and electron transport systems were not down regulated even under SD for this genotype. Resistant genotype specific up-regulation of small heat shock proteins (sHSP) and bark storage proteins revealed importance of protein protection and nitrogen remobilization under drought stress, respectively. This is the first study associating BSP production to delayed leaf abscission and drought tolerance in trees.

Project description:Drought is one of the most important environmental fluctuations affecting tree growth and survival. Therefore, understanding of physiological and transcriptomic responses of trees to this stress factor will make important contributions to forest health and productivity. Here, we report comparative physiological and microarray based transcriptome analysis between drought resistant (N.62.191) and drought-sensitive (N.03.368.A) black poplar genotypes under well-watered (WWP), moderate drought (MD), severe drought (SD) and post drought re-watering (PDR) conditions. In the study, sensitive genotype exhibited a drought escape strategy with lower leaf water potential, higher reactive oxygen production, complete leaf abscission and subsequent terminal shoot necrosis under drought stress. On the other hand, resistant genotype had a dehydration tolerance indicating highly delayed leaf abscission under drought and fast growing capacity during re-watering conditions. Gene ontology enrichment analysis attributed drought susceptibility of black poplar to significant up-regulation of genes functional in transcription regulation (AP2/ERF, NAC and WRKY), cell wall modification (Expansins), fatty acid metabolism (enoyl-ACP reductase, lipid transport protein particle), protein degradation (endopeptidases), ethylene synthesis (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate) and riboflavin synthesis (GTP cyclohydrolase II) under drought stress. Transcriptomic comparison indicated significant down-regulation of photosynthesis, electron transport and carbohydrate metabolism related genes under drought stress in sensitive genotype. Although, similar reduction in carbohydrate metabolism was also recorded for resistant genotype, genes related with photosynthesis and electron transport systems were not down regulated even under SD for this genotype. Resistant genotype specific up-regulation of small heat shock proteins (sHSP) and bark storage proteins revealed importance of protein protection and nitrogen remobilization under drought stress, respectively. This is the first study associating BSP production to delayed leaf abscission and drought tolerance in trees. For Microarray experiment total RNA was isolated from the leaves randomly selected from two balck poplar seedlings (two biological replicates) for resistant and sensitive genotypes at well watered period (WWP), moderate drought (MD), severe drought (SD) and post drought rewatering (PDR) periods. For each water availability regime total isolated RNA was loaded onto two Affymetrix poplar Gene Chips for each genotype. Totally 16 Affymetrix poplar GeneChips (2 genotypes × 4 water availability regimes × 2 biological replicates) were used for transcriptional analysis.

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Differential expression and localization of expansins in Arabidopsis shoots: Implications for cell wall dynamics and drought tolerance

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