Transcriptome analysis provides insights into the stress response in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L) subjected to drought-stress.

Abstract

Background: Peanut (Arachis hypogaeaL.) is one of the valuable oilseed crops grown in drought-prone areas worldwide. Drought seriously limits peanut production and productivitysignificantly. Method and Results: In order to decipher the drought tolerance mechanism in peanut under drought stress, RNA sequencing was performed in TAG -24 (drought tolerant genotype) and JL-24 (drought susceptible genotype). Approximately 51 million raw reads were generated from four different libraries of two genotypes subjected to drought stress exerted by 20% PEG 6000 stress and control conditions, of which ~41 million (80.87%) filtered reads were mapped to the Arachis hypogaea L. reference genome. The transcriptome analysis detected 1,629 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 186 genes encoding transcription factors (TFs) and 30,199 SSR among the identified DEGs. The comparative analysis between the two genotypes revealed higher and integral tolerance in TAG-24 through activation of key genes involved in, plant hormone signaling pathway, ABA, LEA protein, and oxidative damage. Conclusion: This genome wide transcription map therefore provides a valuable tool for future transcript profiling under drought stress and enriches the genetic resources available for this important oilseed crop.