Analysis of gene expression in roots of rice seedlings : differing responses of three cultivars to salt-stress

Abstract

A semi-quantitative RT-PCR technique was used to analyze the expression pattern of genes encoding 8 salt-responsive proteins in the roots of seedlings of three rice cultivars: Pokkali (salt-tolerant), KDML105 (salt-sensitive) and IR64 (moderately salt-sensitive). Rice seedlings were grown for 21 days in hydroponic solutions and then transferred to saline solutions for various times.  The expression levels of genes that encode proteins with metabolic, redox reaction and housekeeping functions were analyzed in the roots of control and salt-treated plants of the three rice cultivars. It was found that in the roots of all three rice cultivars, salt stress produced only small changes in levels of transcripts of most of the genes studied, relative to controls; however transcripts of genes encoding fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, phosphoglycolate phosphatase, thioredoxin and cyclophilin-like protein, were higher in roots of both KDML105 and IR64 after salt stress.