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Morpho-physiological and gene expression responses of wheat by Aegilops cylindrica amphidiploids to salt stress

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Abstract

Aegilops cylindrica Host is one of the most salt-tolerant species in the Triticeae tribe. Amphidiploid plants derived from hybridization of ‘Roshan’ × Aegilops cylindrica and ‘Chinese Spring’ × Ae. cylindrica genotypes contrasting in salt tolerance were assessed for their morpho-physiological responses and the expression patterns of two genes related to ion homeostasis under 250 mM NaCl. Results showed that salt stress caused significant declines in both their morphological and phenological traits. Moreover, salt stress reduced not only their chlorophyll content but also their root and shoot K contents and K/Na ratios, while it led to significant enhancements in the remaining traits. Similar to Ae. cylindrica, the amphidiploids subjected to salt stress exhibited significantly higher H2O2 levels, root and shoot K contents, and root and shoot K/Na ratios accompanied by lower root and shoot Na contents and MDA concentrations when compared with the same traits in the wheat parents. Quantitative Real-Time PCR showed significant differential expression patterns of the HKT1;5, NHX1, and SOS1 genes between the amphidiploids and their parents. The transcript level of HKT1;5 was found to be higher in the roots than in the shoots of both the amphidiploids and Ae. cylindrica while NHX1 exhibited a higher expression in the shoot tissues. The consistency of these data provides compelling support for the hypothesis that active exclusion of Na from the roots and elevated vacuolar sequestration of Na in the leaves might explain the declining Na levels in the shoots and roots of both the amphidiploids and Ae. cylindrica relative to those measured in wheat parents. It is concluded that the hybridized amphiploids are potentially valuable resources for salt improvement in bread wheat through the backcrossing approach.

Key message

A synergistic interaction between HKT1;5, NHX1, and SOS1 genes was hypothesized to be positively and significantly associated with the Na+ homeostasis in A. cylindrica and amphidiploid plants subjected to salt stress.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by funds from the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) under Grant No. 96009225. Part of this research was conducted while the first author was on a study leave at the National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran. The final editing of the English manuscript was performed by Dr. Ezzatollah Roustazadeh from ELC, IUT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, 8415683111, Isfahan, Iran

    Razieh Kiani, Ahmad Arzani, S. A. M. Mirmohammady Maibody & Mehdi Rahimmalek

  2. Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, 8415683111, Isfahan, Iran

    Mehdi Rahimmalek

  3. National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), P.O. Box: 14965/161, Tehran, Iran

    Khadijeh Razavi

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  1. Razieh Kiani
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Contributions

AA conceived and designed the research. The experiments were conducted by RK under the supervision of AA. SAMMM, and MR except the molecular analysis that was carried out under the supervision of KR. Finally, data analysis was performed by RK who also wrote down the draft of the manuscript with subsequent contributions from all the authors.

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Correspondence to Ahmad Arzani or Khadijeh Razavi.

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Communicated by Sergey V. Dolgov.

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Kiani, R., Arzani, A., Mirmohammady Maibody, S.A.M. et al. Morpho-physiological and gene expression responses of wheat by Aegilops cylindrica amphidiploids to salt stress. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 144, 619–639 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-020-01983-3

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