Teak Seedlings' Physiological and Gene Expression Responses to Salt and Osmotic Stress

Abstract

Abstract Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Station and Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Anand Agricultural University, Gujarat, conducted the experiment in May 2019 to determine the physiological and differential gene expression analysis of teak seedlings under various abiotic stress conditions (control, 150 mM NaCl and 15% PEG). The physiological data [chlorophyll content, membrane stability index and relative water content] were recorded at 0, 2, 7, and 12 DAT with four repetitions. These parameters were all lowered quantitatively at first, and then considerably during longer treatment. The application of 150 mM NaCl has disastrous effects on plant physiology in terms of PEG. The findings revealed that diverse stresses have a substantial impact on seedling physiology due to chlorophyll degradation, cell and chloroplast membrane damage, ROS formation, and decreased water absorption in response to physiological or physical shortage of accessible soil moisture. At 12 DAT, the gene expression profile of treated seedlings was compared to that of control seedlings. RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of one endogenous and ten stress-related genes. MYB-3, HSP-1, BI-1, and CS-2 genes were up-regulated in leaves of stress-treated seedlings. The genes' up-regulation supported their protective role in plants under abiotic stress. Treatments, stress duration, and plant species all altered the expression profile of genes. According to the findings of this study, these physiological indicators could be used as marker indices to measure tree's stress tolerance capacity during the seedling stage. The up-regulated genes will be further investigated and used to confirm stress resistance and susceptible teak seedlings.