title: Distinct gene networks drive differential response to abrupt or gradual water deficit in potato.
abstract: Water-limiting conditions affect dramatically plant growth and development and, ultimately, yield of potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.). Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying the response to water deficit is of paramount interest to obtain drought tolerant potato varieties. Herein, potato 10K cDNA array slides were used to profile transcriptomic changes of two potato cell populations under abrupt (shocked cells) or gradual exposure (adapted cells) to polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated water stress. Data analysis identified >1000 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in our experimental conditions. Noteworthy, our microarray study also suggests that distinct gene networks underlie the cellular response to shock or gradual water stress. On the basis of our experimental findings, it is possible to speculate that DEGs identified in shocked cells participate in early protective and sensing mechanisms to environmental insults, while the genes whose expression was modulated in adapted cells are directly involved in the acquisition of a new cellular homeostasis to cope with water stress conditions. To validate microarray data obtained for potato cells, the expression analysis of 21 selected genes of interest was performed by Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Intriguingly, the expression levels of these transcripts in 4-week old potato plants exposed to long-term water-deficit. qRT-PCR analysis showed that several genes were regulated similarly in potato cells cultures and tissues exposed to drought, thus confirming the efficacy of our simple experimental system to capture important genes involved in osmotic stress response. Highlighting the differences in gene expression between shock-like and adaptive response, our findings could contribute to the discussion on the biological function of distinct gene networks involved in the response to abrupt and gradual adaptation to water deficit.
authors: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Research Division Portici (CNR-IBBR), Portici (NA), Italy.
authors: Alfredo
authors: A
authors: Ambrosone
authors: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Research Division Portici (CNR-IBBR), Portici (NA), Italy.
authors: Giorgia
authors: G
authors: Batelli
authors: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Portici (NA), Italy.
authors: Hamed
authors: H
authors: Bostan
authors: Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria, Centro di ricerca per l'orticoltura (CREA-ORT), Pontecagnano Faiano (SA), Italy.
authors: Nunzio
authors: N
authors: D'Agostino
authors: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Portici (NA), Italy.
authors: Maria Luisa
authors: ML
authors: Chiusano
authors: Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), TRISAIA Research Center, Rotondella, MT, Italy.
authors: Gaetano
authors: G
authors: Perrotta
authors: Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano SA, Italy.
authors: Antonietta
authors: A
authors: Leone
authors: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Research Division Portici (CNR-IBBR), Portici (NA), Italy.
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Grillo
authors: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Research Division Portici (CNR-IBBR), Portici (NA), Italy. Electronic address: antcosta@unina.it.
authors: Antonello
authors: A
authors: Costa
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003681:Dehydration / Q000235:genetics*; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D005030:Ethylenes; D010940:Plant Proteins; C036216:ethylene
keywords: Plant stress and adaptation; Potato; Solanum tuberosum; Water stress