Impact of heat stress on expression of nine major starch biosynthesis genes in two wheat genotypes differing for heat stress tolerance

ORCID

Bheemanahalli: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9325-4901

MSU Affiliation

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Department of Plant and Soil Sciences

Creation Date

2025-11-19

Abstract

The present study in wheat was undertaken to examine the impact of heat stress on concentration of grain starch and expression of nine important genes involved in starch metabolism. Data on starch content and expression of nine genes (involved in starch synthesis) was recorded in two contrasting genotypes (Seri82: thermo-tolerant; KSG132: relatively thermo-sensitive) at three different stages of grain development (14 days after anthesis or DAA, 21 DAA and 28 DAA). Starch content in two genotypes differed at three stages due to heat stress; it increased at 14 DAA and declined at 21 DAA in both genotypes and at 28 DAA, the pattern differed in the two genotypes. Expression of different genes was either downregulated or remained unchanged due to heat stress except the following situations, where upregulation was noticed: (i) in KSG132: globular starch synthase I (GBSSI) and β-amylase (BMY) at 14 DAA, and starch branching enzyme I (SBEI) at 28 DAA (ii) in Seri82: ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase large subunit (AGPaseLS), soluble starch synthase I (SSSI) and isoamylase I (ISAI) at 28 DAA (iii) in both the genotypes: SSSIII at 28 DAA. Expression of two of the nine genes, (AGPaseSS and SSSIII), generally showed upregulation due to heat stress in thermo-tolerant genotype Seri82, indicating that these two genes may be contributing to thermotolerance during grain filling period. Overall, the present study revealed genotypic differences in the expression of starch synthesis genes and their impact on starch concentration between thermo-sensitive and thermo-tolerant genotypes under heat stress.

Publication Date

1-1-2025

Publication Title

Plant Physiology Reports

Publisher

Springer

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40502-025-00898-5