Transgenic Arabidopsis plants
(IPT) containing the SAG12:ipt autoregulated cytokinin production capability
accumulate more cytokinin and remain greener and produce more biomass and seeds
than wild-type (WT) plants under flooding stress. To gain insight into changes in gene
expression that contribute to flooding tolerance, whole genome microarray analysis of the 27,000 Arabidopsis genes was conducted at
specific times during a 5 d period of non-flooded control, waterlogging, and
complete submergence. Statistical analysis by ANOVA identified a group of 1078
genes that were up-regulated in both genotypes under submergence stress. Gene
Ontology (GO) analysis of the categorical functions of the up-regulated genes
showed a group of 96 genes involved in the regulation of transcription (p=
5.95E-06), and a group of 55 genes in signal transduction (p=1.41E-03). Hierarchical clustering using Euclidean
distance metric revealed distinct temporal patterns of expression in these
genes: 1) Late induction genes whose level of expression increased gradually
during the 5 d submergence; 2) Early induction genes whose expression was
induced to a high level at 1 h of submergence but declined thereafter; 3)
Constant expression genes whose expression was induced to a low level at 1 h of
submergence and remained constant throughout the 5 d submergence. Under submergence stress, genes of
photosynthesis and energy utilization pathways expressed 2- to 4-fold more in
the tolerant IPT plants than in WT plants suggesting that flooding tolerance
mechanisms involve both energy production and utilization. Comprehensive
analysis of transcriptional changes associated with cytokinin-induced flooding
stress tolerance will be reported.