Study on Gene Expression of Barley in Response to Osmotic Stress Using Macroarray

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a model plant, as genetic and physiological studies are concerned. Abiotic stresses such as drought adversely affect the growth of plants. The objective of this experiment was to identify the responsive genes to osmotic stress, using macroarray (covering 13050 genes). RNA was extracted from 5 barley genotypes in stress as well as in normal conditions at 3 times of 1, 3 and 7 days after PEG application. ANOVA reveald significant condition effect on 744 genes. PCA was done on interaction effect matrix of gene × condition with most of the selected genes being related to lipid metabolism, stress response pathway and amino acid metabolism. The same analysis on interaction effect matrix of gene × conditions × genotype, and gene × condition × time led to genes which most of them were related to stress, hormone and amino acid metabolism. Dehydrins and lipid transfer protein gene groups had the highest numbers, in responsive gene cluster, to osmotic stress.