Extensive tissue-specific transcriptomic plasticity in maize primary roots upon water deficit.

ABSTRACT: Water deficit is the most important environmental constraint severely limiting global crop growth and productivity. This study investigated early transcriptome changes in maize (Zea mays L.) primary root tissues in response to moderate water deficit conditions by RNA-Sequencing. Differential gene expression analyses revealed a high degree of plasticity of the water deficit response. The activity status of genes (active/inactive) was determined by a Bayesian hierarchical model. In total, 70% of expressed genes were constitutively active in all tissues. In contrast, <3% (50 genes) of water deficit-responsive genes (1915) were consistently regulated in all tissues, while >75% (1501 genes) were specifically regulated in a single root tissue. Water deficit-responsive genes were most numerous in

SUBMITTER: Opitz N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4753846 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature