Transcriptomic and hormonal analysis of the roots of maize seedlings grown hydroponically at low temperature

• Published in: Plant science (Limerick) Vol. 326; p. 111525
• Main Authors: Friero, Iván, Larriba, Eduardo, Martínez-Melgarejo, Purificación A., Justamante, María Salud, Alarcón, M. Victoria, Albacete, Alfonso, Salguero, Julio, Pérez-Pérez, José Manuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01-01-2023
• Subjects: Hormone profiling; Meristem - genetics; Plant Roots; RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq); Root apical meristem (RAM); Seedlings; Transcriptome; Zea mays; Zea mays - metabolism; CBF/DREB; CPM; PR; RAV; TZ; PZ; SCZ; BSA; QC; 2-iP; DZ; RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq); MF; MI; PBS; RBR; EI; HSP; IAA; DAPI; PCA; Root apical meristem (RAM); EZ; JA; ERF; ABA; Hormone profiling; lncRNA; H2DC; FSC-A; BP; SA; CDF4; FDR; lincRNA; GA; CC; ACC; Zea mays; COR; DEG; CK; GO; ICE; SSC-A; TF; RNA-Seq; EdU; PI; TIM; PLT2; RAM
• ISSN: 0168-9452; 1873-2259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111525

Prolonged cold stress has a strong effect on plant growth and development, especially in subtropical crops such as maize. Soil temperature limits primary root elongation, mainly during early seedling establishment. However, little is known about how moderate temperature fluctuations affect root growth at the molecular and physiological levels. We have studied root tips of young maize seedlings grown hydroponically at 30 ºC and after a short period (up to 24 h) of moderate cooling (20 ºC). We found that both cell division and cell elongation in the root apical meristem are affected by temperature. Time-course analyses of hormonal and transcriptomic profiles were achieved after temperature reduction from 30 ºC to 20 ºC. Our results highlighted a complex regulation of endogenous pathways leading to adaptive root responses to moderate cooling conditions.
•PR growth of young maize seedlings grown in hydroponics is inhibited by temperature reduction from 30 ºC to 20 ºC.•Cell cycle duration and cell elongation are the most sensitive traits affected by temperature reduction.•Gene expression profiling highlighted genes deregulated at 20 ºC involved in DNA transcriptional regulation and mitochondrial biogenesis.•Temperature-dependent hormone profiles were both region and time specific.