Genome-wide expression of low temperature response genes in Rosa hybrida L.

Authors: VALQUÍRIA DOS REIS, MICHELE - University Of Illinois; VAUGHN ROUHANA, LAURA - University Of Illinois; SADEQUE, AHMED - University Of Illinois; KOGA, LUCIMARA - University Of Illinois; Clough, Steven; CALLA, BERNANDA - University Of Illinois; DE OLIVEIRA PAIVA, PATRÍCIA DUARTE - Federal University Of Lavras; KORBAN, SCHUYLER - University Of Illinois

Submitted to: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/14/2019
Publication Date: 11/15/2019
Citation: Valquíria Dos Reis, M., Vaughn Rouhana, L., Sadeque, A., Koga, L., Clough, S.J., Calla, B., Duarte de Oliveira Paiva, P., Korban, S.S. 2019. Genome-wide expression of low temperature response genes in Rosa hybrida L.. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 146:238-248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.11.021.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.11.021

Interpretive Summary: Plants respond to cold stress via cold acclimation, a complex process involving changes in their physiology and chemistry, as well as alterations in gene and protein expression. The rose serves as a good model to investigate low temperature responses in perennial ornamental plants. In this study, we investigated gene expression changes in rose floral buds 2 and 12 hours after subjecting then to near freezing temperatures. A total of 134 genes were up-regulated and 184 were down-regulated in response to this cold stress. A total of eight were consistently up-regulated genes, at both 2 and 12 hours. These eight genes encoded for two cytochrome P450 proteins, two ankyrin repeat family proteins, two metal ion binding proteins, and two zinc finger protein-related transcription factors. We validated expression patterns of 12 genes whose expression changed in the study, and expanded the expression study of the AP2/ERF gene family that are known to be involved in cold responses, and found that, overall, AP2/ERFs genes were more rapidly induced in leaves compared to those of floral buds. This work will be of interest to plant physiologist and molecular biologists.

Technical Abstract: Plants respond to cold stress via cold acclimation, a complex process involving changes in physiological and biochemical modifications, alterations in gene expression, and changes in protein levels. The rose serves as a good model to investigate low temperature responses in perennial ornamental plants. In this study, a heterologous apple microarray is used to investigate global gene expression in floral buds of Rosa hybrida subjected to low temperature treatment. Expression profiles are determined in floral buds at 2h and 12h of cold temperature treatment (40 C). A total of 134 transcripts are up-regulated and 184 transcripts are downregulated in response to cold stress treatment. Interestingly, a total of eight up-regulated genes, including those coding for two cytochrome P450 proteins, two ankyrin repeat family proteins, two metal ion binding proteins, and two zinc finger protein-related transcription factors, along with a single down-regulated gene, coding for a dynamin-like protein, are detected at 2h and 12h. Transcript profiles of 12 genes known to be involved in cold stress response are also validated using qRT-PCR. Furthermore, expression patterns of AP2/ERF gene family of transcription factors are investigated in floral buds and leaves following cold stress. Overall, AP2/ERFs genes are more rapidly induced in leaves compared to those of floral buds. Moreover, differential gene expression of several AP2/ERF genes are readily detected in vegetative rather than in reproductive tissues following cold acclimation of rose.