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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #132343
Title: RESEARCH PROGRESS OF DNA PROFILES ASSOCIATED WITH DROUGHT STRESS IN CORN AND PEANUT

Author
item Guo, Baozhu

Submitted to: Southern Regional Information Exchange Group
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2002
Publication Date: 1/10/2002
Citation: Guo, B. 2002. Research progress of DNA profiles associated with drought stress in corn and peanut [abstract]. Southern Regional Information Exchange Group-51 Abstracts, Baton Rouge, LA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Our research goals are to study and identify factors associated with resistance to aflatoxin contamination in corn and peanut, and to identify genes/markers associated with the resistance to drought stress and insects in order to develop strategies for control of preharvest aflatoxin contamination. Plants respond to many types of environmental stresses. Among these, drought stress is the most serious problem that limits plant growth and crop production in agriculture. When plants are stressed by environmental factors, a series of physiological and biochemical changes occur based on gene expression. Drought stress also exacerbates aflatoxin contamination. Differential display technology of mRNA is a powerful tool for identifying and cloning differentially expressed genes. Using DD-RT-PCR, gene expression profiles between plants with drought stress vs without drought stress have yielded some interesting information in understanding the molecular mechanisms related to drought-stress. The differentially expressed fragments, which were up- or down-regulated by drought stress, were excised from the gels, re-amplified by PCR, and verified by reverse Northern blot. Sixty-eight cDNA fragments were obtained in corn. Fourteen cDNA fragments were sequenced and analyzed using BLAST in the GenBank. In peanut 8 polymorphic bands have been cloned. One clone sequence has high homology with strawberry 40S ribosomal protein s12 mRNA and the full-length cDNA has been cloned and sequenced as a putative rebosomal mRNA in peanut. We also identified and sequenced a novel PLD gene, encoding a putative phospholipase D in peanut, a main enzyme responsible for the drought-induced degradation of membrane phospholipids. Further studies of these drought-stress related genes are needed to genetically and physiologically characterize theses genes in corn and peanut and to gain a better understanding of their function.