Genome-wide identification, expression analysis and evolutionary relationships of the IQ67-domain gene family in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its progenitors

Comparison of the Effects of UV-C Light in the Form of Flash or Continuous Exposure: A Transcriptomic Analysis on Arabidopsis thaliana L

Ultraviolet C (UV-C) flash treatment represents a promising method for priming plants. This study compared the effects of 1 s (flash) and 60 s (60 s) UV-C exposures on the transcriptome of Arabidopsis thaliana L. plants. A dose of 200 J m-2 delivered in one second was observed to effectively stimulate plant defenses without causing any adverse effects on plant health. A total of 3054 and 1865 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the flash and 60 s treatments, respectively, in comparison to the control plants. Of these, 1131 were common to both treatments. The flash treatment affected a greater number of transcription factors (415 genes) than the 60 s treatment (254 genes), indicating more pronounced alterations in gene expression. The flash treatment resulted in a significant overexpression of heat shock proteins (HSPs), heat shock factors (HSFs), and their associated genes, which impacted oxidative stress, proteostasis, genome stability, cell survival, and thermotolerance. The majority of mitochondrial genes were found to be upregulated, while photosynthetic genes exhibited a downregulation. These expression patterns coordinate electron transport and crosstalk between the nucleus, chloroplasts, and mitochondria, eliciting an adaptive protective response to UV-C flash. Additionally, the flash treatment resulted in alterations to several genes involved in cell cycle regulation, division, and DNA replication. These included ATP BMMs, BRCA2 s, IQDs, kinesin complex, MCM complex, CYCs, and CDKs, which ultimately led to cell cycle arrest as a temporary preparation for subsequent conditions. The present study demonstrates that a 1 s exposure to UV-C induces distinctive plant responses through coordinated gene expression. The findings suggest that the flash treatment is an innovative method that triggers a unique cellular response, prioritizing repair mechanisms and potentially enhancing plant immunity, resilience, and priming. It can be used as a plant resistance inducer and stimulator.

Genome wide characterization and expression analysis of CrRLK1L gene family in wheat unravels their roles in development and stress-specific responses

Catharanthus roseus receptor-like kinase 1-like (CrRLK1L) genes encode a subfamily of receptor-like kinases (RLK) that regulate diverse processes during plant growth, development, and stress responses. The first CrRLK1L was identified from the Catharanthus roseus, commonly known as Madagascar periwinkle. Subsequently, CrRLK1L gene families have been characterized in many plants. The genome of T. aestivum encodes 15 CrRLK1L genes with 43 paralogous copies, with three homeologs each, except for -2-D and -7-A, which are absent. Chromosomal localization analysis revealed a markedly uneven distribution of CrRLK1L genes across seven different chromosomes, with chromosome 4 housing the highest number of genes, while chromosome 6 lacked any CrRLK1L genes. Tissue-specific gene expression analysis revealed distinct expression patterns among the gene family members, with certain members exhibiting increased expression in reproductive tissues. Gene expression analysis in response to various abiotic and biotic stress conditions unveiled differential regulation of gene family members. Cold stress induces CrRLK1Ls -4-B and -15-A while downregulating -3-A and -7B. Drought stress upregulates -9D, contrasting with the downregulation of -7D. CrRLK1L-15-B and -15-D were highly induced in response to 1 hr of heat, and combined drought and heat stress, whereas -10-B is downregulated. Similarly, in response to NaCl stress, only CrRLK1L1 homeologs were induced. Fusarium graminearum and Claviceps purpurea inoculation induces homeologs of CrRLK1L-6 and -7. The analysis of cis-acting elements in the promoter regions identified elements crucial for plant growth and developmental processes. This comprehensive genome-wide analysis and expression study provides valuable insights into the essential functions of CrRLK1L members in wheat.

Identification and characterization of RuvBL DNA helicase genes for tolerance against abiotic stresses in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and related species

Recombination UVB (sensitivity) like (RuvBL) helicase genes represent a conserved family of genes, which are known to be involved in providing tolerance against abiotic stresses like heat and drought. We identified nine wheat RuvBL genes, one each on nine different chromosomes, belonging to homoeologous groups 2, 3, and 4. The lengths of genes ranged from 1647 to 2197 bp and exhibited synteny with corresponding genes in related species including Ae. tauschii, Z. mays, O. sativa, H. vulgare, and B. distachyon. The gene sequences were associated with regulatory cis-elements and transposable elements. Two genes, namely TaRuvBL1a-4A and TaRuvBL1a-4B, also carried targets for a widely known miRNA, tae-miR164. Gene ontology revealed that these genes were closely associated with ATP-dependent formation of histone acetyltransferase complex. Analysis of the structure and function of RuvBL proteins revealed that the proteins were localized mainly in the cytoplasm. A representative gene, namely TaRuvBL1a-4A, was also shown to be involved in protein-protein interactions with ten other proteins. On the basis of phylogeny, RuvBL proteins were placed in two sub-divisions, namely RuvBL1 and RuvBL2, which were further classified into clusters and sub-clusters. In silico studies suggested that these genes were differentially expressed under heat/drought. The qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that expression of TaRuvBL genes differed among wheat cultivars, which differed in the level of thermotolerance. The present study advances our understanding of the biological role of wheat RuvBL genes and should help in planning future studies on RuvBL genes in wheat including use of RuvBL genes in breeding thermotolerant wheat cultivars.