782-4 Molecular Characterization of Heat-responsive Genes Associated with Heat Tolerance in Bentgrass Species.

See more from this Division: C05 Turfgrass Science
See more from this Session: Genetics and Physiology

Thursday, 9 October 2008: 8:30 AM
George R. Brown Convention Center, 370B

Bingru Huang1, Yan Xu2, Jiang Tian1 and Faith Belanger3, (1)Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ
(2)Rutgers State University Accounts Payable, New Brunswick, NJ
(3)Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Abstract:
The objectives of this study were to characterize the expression of three heat-responsive genes: Hsp16, Hsp70, cysteine protease identified using subtractive suppression hybridization analysis in thermal Agrostis scabra L. and to determine how the expression of these gene/proteins is related to heat tolerance in creeping bentgrass. Three full length cDNAs, encoding AsCP1, AsHsp16 and AsHsp70 were isolated. Enhanced expressions of three genes are observed in the roots of all tested genotypes of thermal A. scabra and creeping bentgrass exposed to high temperature (35oC). Northern blot, semi-quantitative RT-PCR and western blot analysis revealed that the expression level of two genes encoding heat shock proteins (AsHsp16 and AsHsp70) and the gene encoding cysteine proteases controlling protein degradation (AsCP1) was positively and negatively correlated with the level of heat tolerance, respectively, in both bentgrass species. Our results demonstrated the importance of HSP16 and HSP70 and proteases in regulating plant tolerance to heat stress, and also suggest that these heat-responsive genes may be useful as a molecular marker to select for heat-tolerant cool-season grass germplasm.

See more from this Division: C05 Turfgrass Science
See more from this Session: Genetics and Physiology