Differential gene expression and mitotic cell analysis of the drought tolerant soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill Fabales, Fabaceae) cultivar MG/BR46 (Conquista) under two water deficit induction systems

Abstract

Drought cause serious yield losses in soybean (Glycine max), roots being the first plant organ to detect the water-stress signals triggering defense mechanisms. We used two drought induction systems to identify genes differentially expressed in the roots of the drought-tolerant soybean cultivar MG/BR46 (Conquista) and characterize their expression levels during water deficit. Soybean plants grown in nutrient solution hydroponically and in sand-pots were submitted to water stress and gene expression analysis was conducted using the differential display (DD) and real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. Three differentially expressed mRNA transcripts showed homology to the Antirrhinum majus basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor bHLH, the Arabidopsis thaliana phosphatidylinositol transfer protein PITP and the auxin-independent growth regulator 1 (axi 1). The hydroponic experiments showed that after 100 min outside the nutrient solution photosynthesis completely stopped, stomata closed and leaf temperature rose. Both stress induction treatments produced significant decrease in the mitotic indices of root cells. Axi 1, PITP and bHLH were not only differentially expressed during dehydration in the hydroponics experiments but also during induced drought in the pot experiments. Although, there were differences between the two sets of experiments in the time at which up or down regulation occurred, the expression pattern of all three transcripts was related. Similar gene expression and cytological analysis results occurred in both systems, suggesting that hydroponics could be used to simulate drought detection by roots growing in soil and thus facilitate rapid and easy root sampling.

Expression analysis in response to drought stress in soybean: shedding light on the regulation of metabolic pathway genes

“…Previous studies indicate that PSys and HSys physiological responses were observed at a stress level of −3.0 MPa and T100 min, respectively (Martins et al , 2008). At this point, soybean plants begin a process of wilting, where the rate of photosynthesis decreases, leading to stomata closure and increased leaf temperature.…”

Differential Impact of Acclimation and Acute Water Deprivation in the Expression of Key Transcription Factors in Soybean Roots

“…The BR 16 cultivar is sensitive to water stress, while the Embrapa 48 cultivar shows a higher capacity to tolerate periods of drought (Casagrande et al 2001;Oya et al 2004;Texeira et al 2008;Vidal et al 2012). The drought assays were conducted in both a PSys in which the plants were grown in sand and a HSys in which the plants were grown in a nutrient solution (Martins et al 2008;Kulcheski et al 2010).…”

Expression Patterns of GmAP2/EREB-Like Transcription Factors Involved in Soybean Responses to Water Deficit

“…Briefly, leaves and roots from control and stressed plants were obtained from Embrapa 48 and BR 16 soybean cultivars that had been grown hydroponically, as described by Martins et al [25]. When the plants reached the V4 stage, they were subjected to progressive water deficit treatments.…”