Different Rice Varieties Gene Expression In Response To Drought Stress

In this work, the responses of rice (Zhonghan3 and Aizaizhan) to drought stress (simulated by 10%PEG6000) were investigated with gene-chip analysis and RT-PCR technology. Results were showed as follow:1. The effects drought stress on relative water content in rice seedling leavesThe relative water content in both rice seedling leaves were significantly affected by drought stress. The relative water content in rice seedlings decreased along with time change under the drought stress and it decreased lightly in zhonghan3, but more severe in aizaizhan. The results suggested that the zhonghan3 was more tolerant to water stress, whereas aizaizhan sensitive.2. Gene expression analysis of rice using gene-chip under drought stressThe gene expression in both rice seedling leaves were significantly affected by drought stress. Receptor gene, signal transduction gene, transcription factors and transcriptional regulation gene, anti-dehydration-specific gene, detoxication gene, synthesis of secondary metabolites and antibiotics gene, modification of molecular structure and macromolecular, transportation and metabolic gene all were induced by drought stress in zhonghan3 leaves. Among them, signal transduction gene, transcription factors and transcriptional regulation gene, anti-dehydration-specific gene and detoxication gene were largely induced by drought stress. In particular, jacalin and aquaporin were strongly expressed in zhonghan3 seedling leaves, but not detected in aizaizhan. This may be the main mechanism for tolerance to drought stress of zhonghan3.Contrary,the mumber of genes, induced by drought stress was small and the magnitude up-regulated was also small in aizaizhan leaves. Especially the mumber of anti-dehydration-specific gene was very small. This may be mainly contributed to the sensitivity to drought stress of aizaizhan. 3. Identifing drought stress-induced gene in rice seedling leaves with RT-PCR technologyThe result showed that active methyl cycle and transfer genes would be inhibited or inducted in zhonghan3 leaves by drought stress, but only be inhibited in aizaizhan leaves. The results were consistent with the result of gene-chip.