A Transcriptomics Approach To Study Genes Expressed Under Salt Stress In Camelina Sativa Var. Suneson

Open Access
- Author:
- Soliman, Mario A
- Area of Honors:
- Science
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Shobha Devi Potlakayala, Thesis Supervisor
Dr. Ronald Walker, Thesis Honors Advisor
Sairam V Rudrabhatla, Faculty Reader - Keywords:
- salt stress
NaCl
Camelina Sativa
GAPDH
HSFA2A
MT3
PAL1
PLSOS4
PR1
SalT
SIFV
SIFVG
WRKY70
reference genes - Abstract:
- Agricultural production and quality are adversely affected by various abiotic stresses including cold, drought, salinity, radiation, and light intensities. The influence of stress has a direct impact on yield and productivity of crop plants particularly during vegetative plant growth. Biotechnological intervention that augments traditional/conventional breeding has yielded crops with improved input and output traits. In the present study, a transcriptomics approach has been taken to study the gene expression of selected genes during salt stress in Camelina sativa. To study the transcriptome of the stress response, two-week old Camelina sativa seedlings were exposed to different time regimes of salt stress. Total ribonucleic acid was extracted from the treatments and complementary deoxyribonucleic acid was synthesized. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to check the presence of eight stress-related genes expressed in Camelina and a housekeeping gene. This was followed by a detailed transcriptomic analysis by looking at relative changes in gene expression of all the chosen genes using a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results showed various trends of gene regulation, indicating their significance in salt stress response in Camelina. Further analysis from this study will lead to a deeper understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in salt stress and also identify potential gene(s) for genetically engineering salt tolerance into this economically valued biofuel crop.