An integrative proteome analysis of different seedling organs in tolerant and sensitive wheat cultivars under drought stress and recovery

Roots, leaves, and intermediate sections between roots and leaves (ISRL) of wheat seedlings show different physiological functions at the protein level. We performed the first integrative proteomic analysis of different tissues of the drought‐tolerant wheat cultivar Hanxuan 10 (HX‐10) and drought‐sensitive cultivar Chinese Spring (CS) during a simulated drought and recovery. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the roots (122), ISRLs (146), and leaves (163) showed significant changes in expression in response to drought stress and recovery. Numerous DEPs associated with cell defense and detoxifications were significantly regulated in roots and ISRLs, while in leaves, DEPs related to photosynthesis showed significant changes in expression. A significantly larger number of DEPs related to stress defense were upregulated in HX‐10 than in CS. Expression of six HSPs potentially related to drought tolerance was significantly upregulated under drought conditions, and these proteins were involved in a complex protein–protein interaction network. Further phosphorylation analysis showed that the phosphorylation levels of HSP60, HSP90, and HOP were upregulated in HX‐10 under drought stress. We present an overview of metabolic pathways in wheat seedlings based on abscisic acid signaling and important protein expression patterns.     

Impact of osmotic stress on physiological and biochemical characteristics in drought-susceptible and drought-resistant wheat genotypes

In this study, the seedlings of two wheat cultivars were used: drought-resistant Chinese Spring (CS) and drought-susceptible (SQ1). Seedlings were subjected to osmotic stress in order to assess the differences in response to drought stress between resistant and susceptible genotype. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the changes in physiological and biochemical characteristics and to establish the optimum osmotic stress level in which differences in drought resistance between the genotypes could be revealed. Plants were subjected to osmotic stress by supplementing the root medium with three concentrations of PEG 6000. Seedlings were grown for 21 days in control conditions and then the plants were subjected to osmotic stress for 7 days by supplementing the root medium with three concentrations of PEG 6000 (D1, D2, D3) applied in two steps: during the first 3 days of treatment ?0.50, ?0.75 and ?1.00 and next ?0.75, ?1.25 and ?1.5 MPa, respectively. Measurements of gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll content, height of seedlings, length of root, leaf and root water content, leaf osmotic potential, lipid peroxidation, and contents of soluble carbohydrates and proline were taken. The results highlighted statistically significant differences in most traits for treatment D2 and emphasized that these conditions were optimum for expressing differences in the responses to osmotic stress between SQ1 and CS wheat genotypes. The level of osmotic stress defined in this study as most suitable for differentiating drought resistance of wheat genotypes will be used in further research for genetic characterization of this trait in wheat through QTL analysis of mapping population of doubled haploid lines derived from CS and SQ1.     

Comparative analysis of DNA methylation changes in two contrasting wheat genotypes under water deficit

DNA methylation is one of the epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene expression in plants in response to environmental conditions. In this study, analysis of methylation patterns was carried out in order to assess the effect of water stress in two contrasting wheat genotypes using methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP). The results revealed that demethylation was higher in drought-tolerant genotype (C306) as compared to drought-sensitive genotype (HUW468) after experiencing drought stress. Comparisons of different MSAP patterns showed a high percentage of polymorphic bands between tolerant and susceptible wheat genotypes (from 74.79 % at anthesis to 88.89 % at tillering). Furthermore, differential DNA methylation in roots and leaves also revealed tissue-specific methylation of genomic DNA. Interestingly, 54 developmental stage-specific bands and 23 bands that were found contrasting between these two wheat genotypes were detected. Furthermore, a few sites with stable DNA methylation differences were identified between drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive cultivars, thus providing genotype-specific epigenetic markers. These results not only provide data on differences in DNA methylation changes but also contribute to dissection of molecular mechanisms of drought response and tolerance in wheat.     

Metabolic and Regulatory Responses in Citrus Rootstocks in Response to Adverse Environmental Conditions

In response to adverse environmental conditions, plants modify their metabolism to adapt to the new conditions. To differentiate common responses to abiotic stress from specific adaptation to a certain stress condition, two citrus rootstocks (Carrizo citrange and Cleopatra mandarin) with a different ability to tolerate stress were subjected to soil flooding and drought, two water stress conditions. In response to these conditions, both genotypes showed altered root proline and phenylpropanoid levels, especially cinnamic acid, which was a common feature to Carrizo and Cleopatra. This was correlated with alterations in the levels of phenylpropanoid derivatives likely involved in lignin biosynthesis. In the regulatory part, levels of both stress hormones abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) decreased in response to soil flooding irrespective of the genotype’s relative flooding tolerance, but, on the other hand, the concentration of both metabolites increased in response to drought, showing a transient accumulation of JA after a few days and a progressive pattern of ABA increase. These responses are probably associated with different regulatory processes under soil flooding and drought. In addition, alterations in indole acetic acid (IAA) levels in citrus roots seemed to be associated with particular stress tolerance. Moreover, both genotypes exhibited a low degree of overlap in the metabolites induced under similar stress conditions, indicating a specific mechanism to cope with stress in plant species. Results also indicated a different metabolic basal status in both genotypes that could contribute to stress tolerance.     

水分胁迫下小麦地上和地下部的反应及其抗旱性研究

本试验较系统地研究了四个小麦品种水分胁迫下地上、地下部的形态、生理和信息传递物质的变化及其抗旱性,为高等植物的抗旱机理研究提供了一些有价值的资料。为抗旱育种和育农栽培提供理论上的依据。     

Proteomics uncovers a role for redox in drought tolerance in wheat

Proteomic analysis offers a new approach to identify a broad spectrum of genes that are expressed in living systems. We applied a proteomic approach to study changes in wheat grain in response to drought, a major environmental parameter adversely affecting development and crop yield. Three wheat genotypes differing in genetic background were cultivated in field under well-watered and drought conditions by following a randomized complete block design with four replications. The overall effect of drought was highly significant as determined by grain yield and total dry matter. About 650 spots were reproducibly detected and analyzed on 2-DE gels. Of these, 121 proteins showed significant change under drought condition in at least one of the genotypes. Mass spectrometry analysis using MALDI-TOF/TOF led to the identification of 57 proteins. Two-thirds of identified proteins were thioredoxin (Trx) targets, in accordance with the link between drought and oxidative stress. Further, because of contrasting changes in the tolerant and susceptible genotypes studied, several proteins emerge as key participants in the drought response. In addition to providing new information on the response to water deprivation, the present study offers opportunities to pursue the breeding of wheat with enhanced drought tolerance using identified candidate genetic markers. The 2-DE database of wheat seed proteins is available for public access at http://www.proteome.ir.     

渗透胁迫和CO~(++)对小麦幼苗内源多胺含量和乙烯产生的影响

抗旱和不抗旱的小麦幼苗叶片与根系,在1MPaPEG渗透胁迫下释出乙烯和生成内源腐胺、亚精胺和精胺的数量增加。当增加2mmol钴离子处理6h和12h后,乙烯生成显著受到抑制,而亚精肢和精胺呈现进一步增加。表明钴离子阻遏了氨基环烷羧酸向乙烯转变的途径,并为多胺合成提供了更多的底物,从而有利于提高小麦抗衰老和抗旱的能力,抗旱品种表现更为明显。