The expression of drought responsive element binding protein (DREB2A) related gene from pea (Pisum sativum L.) as affected by water stress.

Abstract

Protein pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an agronomic type of pea introduced in the region of modern Serbia in the early eighties of the last century. In this study, a new variety NS MRAZ developed by pedigree selection in 2011 was used. Two-week-old plants were subjected to drought stress by withholding irrigation for 7 and 10 days, and rehydrated for one day. Stress effects were monitored by determination of relative water content (RWC), lipid peroxidation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).We isolated partial cDNA of Pisum sativum DREB2A, namely PsDREB2A (HM229349), which belongs to the DREB gene family. Bioinformatics analyses showed high similarity with DREB2A gene from model legume Medicago truncataula. The relationship between the expression profile of PsDREB2A gene and water stress was assayed by quantitative real time PCR in pea roots and leaves. According to obtained results, it is evident that loss of water content strongly induced accumulation of ROS and lipid peroxidation in pea plants. The expression of PsDREB2A in pea roots increased with water content decrease, reaching maximum after 10 days of dehydration (2 fold higher than in control plants). On the other hand, in the pea leaves, the highest level of expression was observed after 7 days of dehydration (60% higher than in control). Observed tissue-specific expression profile of PsDREB2A suggests complex regulation and the role of this transcription factor in pea drought response. In addition, we can conclude that this pea (var.” NS MRAZ”) is a drought sensitive plant.