Análise de expressão gênica diferencial em genótipo de cana-de-açúcar tolerante ao estresse hídrico, usando real-time RT-PCR

Abstract

In Brazil there is still no variety of commercial transgenic sugarcane used in large scale, although biotechnological research in the area of gene expression has been performed in order to obtain varieties that can be cultivated in low rainfall, high temperatures and in low fertil soils. In the present work it was analised the diferencial gene expression in leaves of the variety of sugarcane RB72910 in field capacity and under severe water stress in a greenhouse. The evaluation was done using the technique real-time RT-PCR a powerful tool used to identify and quantify significant changes in the levels of transcripts, facilitating the selection of candidate genes for use in transgenic plants. For this we analized the expression of 11 genes in leaf samples in two conditions of water regime. The genes analyzed were: DNAJ, PGR5, H1, PSI, LTP, WIP, ZmPIP2-1, ZmTIP4-2, SAMDC and two genes with unknown functions. It was observed that the variety studied showed diferential gene expression under water stress mainly for genes encoding proteins of the protective fotosynthetic system and for maintenance of the homeostasis. Thus, it was concluded that the genotype RB72910 has important agronomical traits of fotoprotection and adaptation to drought.