Analysis of Physio-biochemical responses and expressional profiling of DREB transcription factors for drought stress tolerance in Aegilops tauschii Coss

Abstract

Abstract Aegilops tauschii Coss. (2n = 2x = 14, DD) is a weed of wheat, competes for resources, performs better against different abiotic stresses, and is a rich genetic material source for wheat crop improvement programs. The effects of different drought stress levels on physiological and biochemical parameters and the expression profile of the drought resistance gene DRB were examined through greenhouse experiments. The physiological parameters (plant height, dry weight biomass, plant height, and leaf area-related parameters) fluctuated under different drought stress levels. Photosynthetic parameters (maximum (Fo’) and minimum (F’m) fluorescence, photochemical ((ΦPSII)), and non-photochemical quenching (qN)) were also affected by different drought stress levels, and their efficiency fluctuated with water availability. In the biochemical analysis, shallow significant changes occurred in peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and proline content, while malondialdehyde (MDA) showed variation under different drought stress conditions. In the DREB gene expression analysis, eight populations showed high expression profiles compared to the control conditions in Ae. tauschii. The expression profiles in Ae. tauschii showed a high fold increase compared to the control condition, and DREB gene expression correlated with the changes in physiological and biochemical parameters.