Transcriptome analysis of barley lines with contrasting responses to abiotic stresses

Authors: Mahalingam, Ramamurthy; Bregitzer, Paul; KAUNDAL, RAKESH - Utah State University; DUHAN, NAVEEN - Utah State University

Submitted to: Plant and Animal Genome Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/22/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Heat and drought are the two most adverse abiotic stresses that negatively impact yield and quality of barley. The combined heat and drought stress even for a period of 3-4 days during heading stage is detrimental to the crop. Barely variety Otis was identified in a screen to identify germplasm that are tolerant to these stresses. Golden Promise (GP), a malting variety was sensitive to these stresses. Flag leaves and heads from these two varieties were collected 1 and 5 days after heat, drought and combined stress treatments. A total of 144 RNA-seq libraries were analyzed using the Lexogen QuantSeq 3’mRNA-seq. The RNA-seq reads were assembled into contigs and then were aligned to the barley Morex version 3 reference genome. Tissue specific, time point specific and varietal specific comparisons were made to identify unique and shared responses to these stresses in these two contrasting lines. Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis was used to identify co-regulated genes. Genes in the significant modules were further examined using gene ontology enrichment followed by pathway enrichment analysis to gain understanding of the molecular responses to these stresses. Differentially expressed transcriptional regulatory genes identified uniquely in the tolerant Otis can provide targets for marker assisted breeding and for biotechnology based manipulation to improve abiotic stress in barley and other cereals.