Abstract Detail

Genomics / Proteomics

Luo, Yan [1], Freese, Daniella [2], Reid, Robert [2], Zhang, Heng-You [3], Miller, Thomas E. [4], Loraine, Ann [2], Song, Bao-Hua [5].

Comparative transcriptome analysis of beach morning glory reveals important salt adaptation mechanisms.

Soil salinity is one of the major environmental factors causing crop loss worldwide. Here we conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis of two diploid wild relatives of sweet potato, beach morning glory (halophyte) and white star (glycophyte) following salt treatment. Our objective was to discern novel genes and pathways that confer salt tolerance in the halophyte. Overall, our results highlighted the lineage-specific mechanisms in conferring salt tolerance and importance of applying crop wild relatives in crop improvement. Specifically, our results showed that the glycophyte exhibited more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) than the halophyte relative, suggesting the role of constitutive vs induced gene expression in evolutionarily adapted and non-adapted species. Meanwhile, the root tissue in both species exhibited more differentially expressed genes than the leaves. This highlights the role of the root tissue in conferring salt tolerance. Heatmap analysis of the root tissue revealed 53.6 % of halophyte-specific up regulated DEGs under salt stress. Lastly, 102 and 23 putative orphan genes were found up regulated in the roots of the halophyte and glycophyte respectively. This could be an unexplored pool of novel genes with potential roles in salt tolerance.

1 - University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Biological Sciences, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
2 - University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
3 - University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, Department of Biological Sciences, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
4 - Florida State University, Department of Biological Science, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
5 - University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, Biology, 9201 University City Blvd, , NC, Charlotte, NC, 28223-0001, USA

Keywords:
comparative transcriptome
halophyte
glycophyte
salt tolerance
Ipomoea.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Genomics/Proteomics Posters
Location: Exhibit Hall/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 6:15 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PGP002
Abstract ID:180
Candidate for Awards:None