Differential Expression Analysis of Phytohormone-Related Genes of Korean Wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Response to Preharvest Sprouting and Abscisic Acid (ABA)

Preharvest sprouting (PHS) is a key global issue in production and end-use quality of cereals, particularly in regions where the rainfall season overlaps the harvest. To investigate transcriptomic changes in genes affected by PHS-induction and ABA-treatment, RNA-seq analysis was performed in two wheat cultivars that differ in PHS tolerance. A total of 123 unigenes related to hormone metabolism and signaling for abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and cytokinin were identified and 1862 of differentially expressed genes were identified and divided into 8 groups by transcriptomic analysis. DEG analysis showed the majority of genes were categorized in sugar related processes, which interact with ABA signaling in PHS tolerant cultivar under PHS-induction. Thus, genes related to ABA are key regulators of dormancy and germination. Our results give insight into global changes in expression of plant hormone related genes in response to PHS.

Automated summary

The study revealed that genes related to ABA play a crucial role in controlling dormancy and germination, interacting with sugar-related processes in PHS-tolerant cultivars. This suggests that ABA-related genes are key regulators in response to PHS.