Comparative transcriptomic and biochemical analyses reveal candidate regulatory genes associated with early drought response signatures in contrasting rapeseed (Brassica napus) cultivars.

ABSTRACT: Drought stress triggers complex and multilayered physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses contributing to plant stress adaptation mechanisms. In this study, we performed comparative transcriptomic and biochemical analyses between drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive rapeseed (Brassica napus) cultivars to identify candidate early response regulatory genes and molecular pathways associated with enhanced response to drought at the seedling stage. Under drought stress, the tolerant cultivar exhibited higher relative water content, greater proline accumulation, elevated antioxidant enzyme activities, and reduced membrane damage compared to the sensitive cultivar. Transcriptomic profiling revealed distinct early-response gene expression signatures between the cultivars. The cultivar

SUBMITTER: Hosseini E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12783290 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature