Evaluating the Differential Response of Transcription Factors in Diploid versus Autotetraploid Rice Leaves Subjected to Diverse Saline–Alkali Stresses

Abstract

Saline–alkali stress is a significant abiotic stress factor that impacts plant growth, development, and crop yield. Consistent with the notion that genome-wide replication events can enhance plant stress resistance, autotetraploid rice exhibited a higher level of tolerance to saline–alkali stress than its donor counterparts, which is reflected by differential gene expression between autotetraploid and diploid rice in response to salt, alkali, and saline–alkali stress. In this study, we investigated the expression of the transcription factors (TFs) in the leaf tissues of autotetraploid and diploid rice under different types of saline–alkali stress. Transcriptome analysis identified a total of 1040 genes from 55 TF families that were altered in response to these stresses, with a significantly higher number in autotetraploid rice compared to diploid rice. Contrarily, under these stresses, the number of expressed TF genes in autotetraploid rice was greater than that in diploid rice for all three types of stress. In addition to the different numbers, the differentially expressed TF genes were found to be from significantly distinct TF families between autotetraploid and diploid rice genotypes. The GO enrichment analysis unraveled that all the DEGs were distributed with differentially biological functions in rice, in particular those that were enriched in the pathways of phytohormones and salt resistance, signal transduction, and physiological and biochemical metabolism in autotetraploid rice compared to its diploid counterpart. This may provide useful guidance for studying the biological roles of polyploidization in plant resilience in response to saline–alkali stress.

The Analysis of Short-Term Differential Expression of Transcription Factor Family Genes in Diploid and Tetraploid Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Varieties during Blast Fungus Infection

“…OsSta2, a co-expressed DETF gene in diploid rice, is now recognized to play a crucial role in determining rice yield and improving its salt tolerance [55]. OsAP211, one of the DETF genes co-expressed in tetraploid rice, is upregulated by salt stress [56]. Our study suggests that both genes have equivalent functions in rice disease resistance (Figure 6e).…”

Underlying Mechanisms of Action to Improve Plant Growth and Fruit Quality in Crops under Alkaline Stress

“…These lncRNAs act as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and constitute a novel set of genetic controls under saline-alkaline stress conditions [97]. It is important to note that the response to this type of stress may exhibit differences according to the level of polyploidization and expression of transcription factors (phytohormone pathways, salt resistance, signal transduction, and physiological and biochemical metabolism) [98].…”