title: Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes by cDNA-AFLP Technique in Response to Drought Stress inTriticum durum.
abstract: Drought is the single largest abiotic stress factor leading to reduced crop yields. The identification of differentially expressed genes and the understanding of their functions in environmentally stressful conditions are essential to improve drought tolerance. Transcriptomics is a powerful approach for the global analysis of molecular mechanisms under abiotic stress. To identify genes that are important for drought tolerance, we analyzed mRNA populations from untreated and drought-stressed leaves ofTriticum durumby cDNA- -amplified fragment length polymorphism (cDNA-AFLP) technique. Overall, 76 transcript- -derived fragments corresponding to differentially induced transcripts were successfully sequenced. Most of the transcripts identified here, using basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) database, were genes belonging to different functional categories related to metabolism, energy, cellular biosynthesis, cell defense, signal transduction, transcription regulation, protein degradation and transport. The expression patterns of these genes were confirmed by quantitative reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT- -PCR) based on ten selected genes representing different patterns. These results could facilitate the understanding of cellular mechanisms involving groups of genes that act in coordination in response to stimuli of water deficit. The identification of novel stress-responsive genes will provide useful data that could help develop breeding strategies aimed at improving durum wheat tolerance to field stress.
authors.affiliation: Genetic and Biometry Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, BP 133, 14000 Kenitra, Morocco; Functional Genomic Platform, Technical Unit (UATRS), National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), Angle Allal Fassi, Avenue des FAR, Hay Riad, BP 8027, 10102 Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Marouane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melloul
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Agronomical Research, Avenue de la Victoire, BP 415, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Driss
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iraqi
authors.affiliation: Genetic and Biometry Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, BP 133, 14000 Kenitra, Morocco; Functional Genomic Platform, Technical Unit (UATRS), National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), Angle Allal Fassi, Avenue des FAR, Hay Riad, BP 8027, 10102 Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: MyAbdelaziz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Alaoui
authors.affiliation: Labgene Scientific Instruments, Athens Building, Business Park, 74160 Archamps, France.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Erba
authors.affiliation: Functional Genomic Platform, Technical Unit (UATRS), National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), Angle Allal Fassi, Avenue des FAR, Hay Riad, BP 8027, 10102 Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Sanaa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alaoui
authors.affiliation: Genetic and Biometry Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, BP 133, 14000 Kenitra, Morocco.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibriz
authors.affiliation: Functional Genomic Platform, Technical Unit (UATRS), National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), Angle Allal Fassi, Avenue des FAR, Hay Riad, BP 8027, 10102 Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Elmostafa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elfahime
keywords: cDNA-AFLP; drought stress; durum wheat; real- -time PCR; transcript-derived fragments