Expression profiling of severe growth abortion (SGA) in triploid hybrids crossed between tetraploid wheat and Aegilops umbellulata.. Triticum aestivum

We have employed whole genome microarray expression profiling as a discovery platform to identify genes to alter the transcript accumulation levels in SGA plants, which are triploid hybrids crossed between tetraploid wheat and a diploid wheat relative Aegilops umbellulata. Of the up-regulated genes, cell death and carboxy-lyase activity-related genes were the most frequently found in crown tissues of SGA plants. On the other hand, photosynthesis-related genes were highly down-regulated in crown tissues of SGA plants. In addition, transcript accumulation levels of shoot apical meristem (SGA)-related genes such as knotted-1 like homeobox (Knox) genes were also repressed in SGA plants. The microarray analysis strongly suggests that an autoimmune response-like reaction might be triggered by intergenomic incompatibility between the AB and U genomes in SGA. In addition, SAM-related and cell cycle-related genes were dramatically down-regulated in crown tissues of SGA, indicating that abnormalities of SAM are associated with the abnormal growth phenotypes in SGA. Overall design: Expression patterns were compared between the two triploid hybrids showing the wild-type phenotype (as a reference) and severe growth abortion. Total RNA samples were isolated from the 7-day-old crown tissues. Two independent experiments were conducted in each exprement.