ARS | Publication request: The Drought-Stress Transcriptome of Chile Pepper

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 15, 2006
Publication Date: November 17, 2006
Citation: Payton, P.R., Rocha-Granados, C., Ochoa-Alejo, N. 2006. The Drought-Stress Transcriptome of Chile Pepper[abstract]. International Center for Arid & Semi-Arid Studies Conference. Lubbock, Texas. November 15-17, 2006.

Technical Abstract: Chile pepper is an economically important crop in semi-arid subtropical regions of Mexico and the Southwestern United States. Because these areas are often water limited and high thermal stress environments, significant decreases in yield are routine. The identification of genetic factors controlling the complex responses of plants to abiotic stress provides a solid basis for improving resistance to drought and thermal stress. We have started a collaborative effort in examining drought-stress responses in chile pepper. The current research is directed toward 1) the identification of metabolic responses to water-deficit and temperature stress and the underlying molecular and genetic mechanisms controlling these responses 2) the development and application of new tools for screening germplasm for desired stress tolerance traits 3) the development of genetic technologies for direct detection of plant stress status. 2065 genes were identified as differentially expressed in response to water-deficit stress in leaves. An additional 124 cDNAs were identified by differential display PCR. Analysis revealed showed homology to known drought responsive genes including an Early Light Inducible Protein, Auxin responsive factor, and thiolase. The results of our expression profiling of drought stress in chile, the development of drought resistant cell lines, and advances in chile pepper transformation will be presented at this meeting.