Key Genes Involved in Wheat Response to Salinity Stress and Mapping their Gene Network

Considering the importance of salinity in wheat and the multigene nature of this trait, the present study was conducted to investigate the expression of key genes involved in the response of wheat to this stress and to create their network.

In this study, the expression of key genes (HKT, DREB, bZIP, NAC, and WARKY) involved in wheat (ARG, AFLAK, and SIRVAN) response to two salinity levels (14 and 21 dS/m) as a factorial experiment with completely random design were examined in three replications. Finally, their gene network was mapped using Pathway Studio 9.0 software.

The analysis of HKT, DREB, bZIP, NAC, and WARKY gene expression showed their differential levels under salinity in wheat cultivars. So that most of their expression increased in the resistant cultivar AFLAK and semi-resistant cultivar ARG, while decreased in the sensitive cultivar SIRVAN. The gene network also revealed that these genes play an important role in the response of wheat to salinity stress as components involved in regulatory and transfer processes through interaction with protein kinases and protein phosphatases.

Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the response of wheat to salinity is controlled by a complex network of regulatory genes such as transcription factors, transporters, protein kinases, protein phosphatases, etc. They can be used in future wheat breeding research.