Quantitative real-time PCR analysis for the thermal responses of genes from the circadian clock, heat-shock and GABA-shunt pathways in wheat

Biological processes that control a plant’s response to temperature have been investigated in model species, and we aim to use knowledge gained from this work to analyse thermal responsive pathways in wheat. Three of the identified thermal responsive processes include chromatin-dependent regulation of transcription, aggregation of proteins with roles in the circadian clock, and accumulation of the non-proteinogenic amino acid, GABA (γ-Aminobutyric acid).We will identify transcript- and metabolite-based biomarkers for each of these processes to screen germplasm that is predicted to be tolerant to growth under warmer conditions. Germplasm identified to show thermal insensitivity will be screened for physiological and yield-related traits under high ambient temperatures in glasshouse and field-based trials, which will help determine if the biomarkers can be used as tools to identify genotypes that will perform well in a warmer climate. Together, the outputs will provide breeding tools to predict germplasm that is more tolerant to growth under high ambient temperatures, and a list of germplasm that shows resilience to heat.

对调控植物对温度响应的生物过程已在对模式物种的研究中得以探究，本研究的宗旨在于运用由此获得的知识来分析小麦中的热响应途径。所识别的三个热响应过程包括染色质依赖性转录调控、具有昼夜节律时钟功能的蛋白质聚集以及非蛋白质生成氨基酸GABA（γ-氨基丁酸）的积累。我们将为每个过程识别基于转录本和代谢物的生物标志物，以筛选出预计在温暖条件下耐受生长的种质资源。对于表现出热不敏感特性的种质，将在温室和田间试验中筛选其生理和产量相关性状，以确定这些生物标志物是否可作为识别在温暖气候下表现优异基因型的工具。综合而言，研究成果将为育种者提供预测更耐受高温生长的种质资源的育种工具，并列出表现出对热适应性的种质资源列表。