Changes in gene expression in Camelina sativa roots and vegetative tissues in response to salinity stress

Zohreh Heydarian,Cathy Coutu,Stephen J Robinson,Dwayne D Hegedus,Min Yu,Margaret Gruber

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-28204-4

Abstract

The response of Camelina sativa to salt stress was examined. Salt reduced shoot, but not root length. Root and shoot weight were affected by salt, as was photosynthetic capacity. Salt did not alter micro-element concentration in shoots, but increased macro-element (Ca and Mg) levels. Gene expression patterns in shoots indicated that salt stress may have led to shuttling of Na+ from the cytoplasm to the tonoplast and to an increase in K+ and Ca+2 import into the cytoplasm. In roots, gene expression patterns indicated that Na+ was exported from the cytoplasm by the SOS pathway and that K+ was imported in response to salt. Genes involved in chelation and storage were up-regulated in shoots, while metal detoxification appeared to involve various export mechanisms in roots. In shoots, genes involved in secondary metabolism leading to lignin, anthocyanin and wax production were up-regulated. Partial genome partitioning was observed in roots and shoots based on the expression of homeologous genes from the three C. sativa sub-genomes. Sub-genome I and II were involved in the response to salinity stress to about the same degree, while about 10% more differentially-expressed genes were associated with sub-genome III.

Highlights

IntroductionCamelina sativa (camelina, false flax or gold of pleasure) is a close relative of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) and the oilseed Brassica crops
Camelina sativa is a close relative of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) and the oilseed Brassica crops
This study examined changes in the biochemistry and gene expression patterns in roots and shoots of camelina plants exposed to salt stress

Summary

Introduction

Camelina sativa (camelina, false flax or gold of pleasure) is a close relative of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) and the oilseed Brassica crops. Efforts to diversify annual crop rotation portfolios renewed interest in this ancient crop as it can be grown on marginal lands that are not well-suited for food crops and has the potential to be a low cost, high value oil and meal bio-feedstock[1,2,3]. It has enhanced drought, some degree of salinity and cold tolerance, displays early maturation, and requires fewer inputs compared to other oilseeds[4,5,6]. Our objective was to determine the global transcriptome changes occurring in camelina as a function of salt stress at the point where plants began to switch to the reproductive phase

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Conclusion