Gene expression in response to salt stress mediated by genome doubling in Hordeum bulbosum

Abstract

Soil salinity impacts crop plants globally and can lead to the death of the plant due to incapacitation of cellular processes. To increase survival, plants have evolved many adaptation mechanisms to tolerate salt stress including genome duplication resulting in polyploid plants and molecular modifications like N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification. How beneficial the m6A modification is to plant survival when faced with salt stress is still being largely studied. The species of study included the diploid and autotetraploid species of wild-type barley (Hordeum bulbosum) which are common in nature, with the tetraploids being known for surviving in high salinity environments. This study aimed to compare differences in gene expression of the diploid and tetraploid treated and control environments using salt response and m6A genes. To analyze salt tolerance, control plants were watered with tap water, and treatment plants were watered with a salt solution. RNA was collected from both control and treatment plants to be used for gene expression analysis. The expected results are that the salt treated plants will have changed gene expression for salt response and m6A genes compared to the control plants.