Responses of late embryogenesis-abundant genes in Leymus chinensis to water deficit

Abstract

Leymus chinensis is a perennial rhizome grass that has diverse environmental adaptations. Late embryogenesis-abundant (LEA) proteins play important roles in abiotic stress response processes involved in the protection of macromolecules and cellular structures. Here, 22 LcLEA genes were identified using transcriptome data and classified into six groups based on phylogenetic analyses. The conserved motifs varied among the different protein groups. Among the dehydrin (DHN) group, four LcDHNs contained Y-, K- and S-segments, one LcDHN contained S- and K-segments, and one LcDHN contained only K-segments. Expression profiles indicated that 21 LcLEAs had altered expression levels in response to water-deficit stress, and the six LcDHNs were remarkably induced by drought treatments, with higher transcript accumulations in root than in shoot, implying that the LcDHN genes play important roles in L. chinensis defenses against water-deficit conditions. These results provide valuable information on LcLEAs’ roles in functional response mechanisms to water-deficit stress and indicate their potential applications in improving drought stress tolerance in L. chinensis.