GSE132183
Transcriptomic and alternative splicing analyses reveal mechanisms of the difference in salt tolerance between barley and rice
Both barley (Hordeum vulgare) and rice (Oryza sativa) belong to Poaceae family, but differ greatly in salt tolerance. In order to understand molecular mechanisms in the difference of salt tolerance between the two species, the responses of transcriptomic profiles to salt stress were compared between rice (cultivar Nipponbare) and barley (accession XZ26) to reveal how alternative splicing (AS) coordinates with transcriptional regulation in adaptation to salt stress. Physiological study showed that XZ26 had higher salt tolerance than Nipponbare, as reflected by less growth inhibition, lower shoot Na+ concentration and higher K+/Na+ ratio when exposed to salt stress. Transcriptomic analysis showed that XZ26 had higher ROS scavenging ability, less degradation of protein kinases and enhanced anti-oxidation. Moreover, AS genes related to ion transporter genes and transcription factors could enhance and amplify K+/Na+ homeostasis and signal transduction cascades. We proposed that higher salt tolerance of barley accession XZ26 is attributed to its superior K+/Na+ homeostasis, tissue detoxication and less energy consumption. The present results provide insights at transcriptomic levels into reasons why barley has higher salt tolerance than rice. Overall design: After 7 d of salt treatments, fresh roots and the latest completely expanded leaves of barley (XZ26) and rice (Nipponbare) were sampled from both salt treatment and control, and immediately stored in liquid nitrogen for further transcriptomic analysis. Three biological replicates were done