Finding Reliable Markers for Stress Response in Fenugreek Plants

Jenn Hoskins
17th March, 2024

Finding Reliable Markers for Stress Response in Fenugreek Plants

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers identified stable genes for accurate plant stress response analysis in fenugreek
  • EEF-1α and GAPDH were found to be the most consistent genes across various stress conditions
  • Using multiple reference genes is necessary for precise results under certain stress treatments
Understanding how plants respond to stress is crucial for improving crop resilience and productivity. Researchers at the Shahrood University of Technology have made significant strides in plant genomics, particularly in the realm of gene expression analysis, which is fundamental for comprehending how plants cope with adverse conditions[1]. This recent study focuses on fenugreek, a valuable plant both for its culinary uses and medicinal properties, particularly its content of diosgenin, a compound with various health benefits. Gene expression analysis is a technique used to understand which genes are active and at what levels under different conditions. Real-time PCR is a widely used method for this purpose because of its sensitivity and accuracy. However, to ensure that the results are reliable, scientists must normalize the data using reference genes—genes with stable expression regardless of experimental conditions. The challenge lies in selecting the right reference genes, especially when plants face environmental stresses like salinity, temperature extremes, or when treated with certain chemicals to enhance their stress tolerance. The study by Shahrood University of Technology meticulously evaluated various reference genes to determine which are the most consistent across different stress conditions and treatments in fenugreek. They tested the plant under 13 unique treatments, including exposure to titanium dioxide, cold plasma, 24-epibrassinolide (a plant hormone), and melatonin, resulting in 148 different treatment combinations. The research revealed that two genes—EEF-1α and GAPDH—generally had stable expression across most conditions. However, it was also discovered that under specific treatments, such as cold stress combined with titanium dioxide nanoparticles, or cold plasma in conjunction with salinity or high-temperature stress, these reference genes' expression levels varied. Therefore, using just one reference gene might not be sufficient for accurate normalization in these scenarios. To validate their findings, the team examined the expression of the SSR gene, which is crucial for diosgenin production, under all the treatments. The results were consistent when using the stable reference genes identified, underscoring the importance of their selection for accurate gene expression analysis. This research is built upon previous studies that have explored how different treatments can enhance plant stress tolerance and boost the production of beneficial compounds like diosgenin. For instance, it was found that applying melatonin and cold plasma could significantly increase the expression of genes involved in diosgenin biosynthesis in fenugreek under salinity stress[2]. Similarly, the use of 24-epibrassinolide and yeast extract has been shown to improve cowpea's tolerance to water deficit, which is another form of environmental stress[3]. Furthermore, 24-epibrassinolide also aided fenugreek's resilience to high-temperature stress while influencing diosgenin content[4]. The current study ties these findings together by providing a methodological foundation for accurately measuring the effects of such treatments on gene expression. It emphasizes that the proper selection of reference genes is essential for discerning the true impact of stress and elicitor treatments on plants. With the correct reference genes in place, scientists can confidently assess how different stressors and enhancers affect plant gene expression, leading to more effective strategies for improving plant tolerance to environmental challenges. In conclusion, the work of Shahrood University of Technology contributes a vital piece to the puzzle of plant stress tolerance research. By identifying stable reference genes for real-time PCR analysis, this study not only validates previous findings but also facilitates future research geared towards optimizing plant health and productivity in the face of climatic adversities.

BiotechGeneticsPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Characterizing reference genes for high-fidelity gene expression analysis under different abiotic stresses and elicitor treatments in fenugreek leaves.

Published 16th March, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13007-024-01167-6

Related Studies

2) The amelioration of salt stress-induced damage in fenugreek through the application of cold plasma and melatonin.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108382

3) Assessing the effects of 24-epibrassinolide and yeast extract at various levels on cowpea's morphophysiological and biochemical responses under water deficit stress.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-023-04548-6

4) Exogenous 24-epibrassinolide ameliorates tolerance to high-temperature by adjusting the biosynthesis of pigments, enzymatic, non-enzymatic antioxidants, and diosgenin content in fenugreek.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33913-6


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