Study of waterlogging impact on root transcriptomic profiles in barley cultivars

Oxygen deprivation as an abiotic stress, dramatically affects plant physiology causing considerable yield losses in crops such as barley (Hordeum vulgare). Plant roots are the first organ to experience hypoxia during flood stress, and therefore it is a priority to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underpinning plant responses to oxygen deprivation in these organs. There is a paucity of data representing sensing of waterlogging in root tissue at present. Here, we aim to address this deficiency, by examining root transcriptomic responses of barley cultivars Franklin and Yerong under 24h and 72h waterlogging stress. Barley roots were sampled at the point 1-3 cm from the root tip. Two roots were sampled per plant. Barley roots were sampled at two points for 1) RNA sequencing and 2) hand sectioning to quantify aerenchyma formation. Roots were pooled for RNA-sequencing based on the quantification of aerenchyma with roots with higher percentage aerenchyma pooled together and lower percentage aerenchyma similarly pooled.