RT-qPCR analysis of some members of DEVIL gene family in Aeluropus littoralis (Gouan) Parl. under salinity stress

DEVILS are small peptides that play an important role in plant growth and development and are effective in controlling plant responses to environmental changes caused by stress. In this research, expression analysis of DVL gene family namely AlDVL1, AlDVL2, AlDVL3 and AlDVL6 were investigated under salinity stress in Aeluropus littoralis, a halophyte plant, at five time-points: 0, 3, 6, 48 hours and one week. RT-qPCR normalization was conducted by two different sets of reference genes for leaf tissue (GTF and U2SnRNP) and root tissue (PRS3 and EF1a). The results showed that the expression pattern of AlDVL genes was affected by salinity stress and had a significant change in root and leaf tissue, and gene expression changes in the root was higher than the leaf except AlDVL6. The highest expression of gene in the leaf tissue was observed at 48 hours (12.12) and in the root at one week for AlDVL2 gene. Also, the gene expression pattern in root and leaf tissues was different and depended on tissue type. Correlation analysis of genes expression revealed dynamic gene expression patterns in different tissues, so that AlDVL6 and AlDVL3 expression correlation in both leaf and root tissues had a negative and significant relation (-0.6) with inverse effects. Considering the nature of the halophyte plants in tolerance to salt stress and the change in the expression of the genes studied after applying salt stress, the probable role of these genes in increasing plant tolerance can be mentioned.