Comparative Transcriptome Profiling in Winter Wheat Grown under Different Agricultural Practices

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), one of
the three
most important cereal crops worldwide, has a dominant position in
Europe due to its adaptability and consumer acceptance particularly
as an organic food commodity. Organic agriculture is developing rapidly,
and its authenticity is presently a subject of great concern to food
authorities, as incorrect labeling can represent commercial fraud.
A comparative transcriptome profiling was conducted on winter wheat
flag leaves of several cultivars growing in open fields under different
agricultural production systems. Performing a microarray study, 10
transcripts differentially expressed in organic and conventional growing
conditions were identified in Tommi and Centenaire cultivars. Transcript
abundance profiles of selected probe sets were independently confirmed
by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR analysis, tested on Tommi,
Centenaire, and Cubus cultivars from different growing-year and geographical
sites. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis showed that
the global wheat transcriptome is influenced by the agricultural system
indicating a promising approach for analytical verification of the
production system of wheat at the farm level.