Abstract Detail

Pteridology

John, Susan P [1], Byeon, Boseon [2], Kovalchuk, Igor [3], Blancaflor, Elison [4], Hasenstein, Karl [5].

RNA-Seq Transcriptome and Biochemical Analysis of the Resurrection fern, Pleopeltis polypodioides. .

Pleopeltis polypodioides is an epiphytic fern that can survive extended drought and resume growth upon rehydration. To gain insights into the molecular mechanisms of desiccation tolerance, we utilized RNA-Seq technology to assess global gene expression in fresh, 50% dehydrated, and dry fronds. We de-novo assembled 314,495,935 Illumina reads from replicate DNA libraries (three each of fresh, partially dehydrated, and dry conditions) to build P. polypodioides gene index containing 61,410 unique contigs with an average length of 1,323 base pairs. To identify regions of local similarity between contigs and annotated sequences, we BLAST-searched a non-redundant-plant database. A total of 25,284 sequences had significant sequence similarity with evolutionarily close organisms Physcomitrella patens and Selaginella moellendorfii. With a cutoff p-value of 0.05, 42% transcripts were differentially expressed in pairwise comparisons in at least one of the three drought conditions. The RNA-Seq results suggest that transcripts associated with the biosynthesis of fatty acids, secondary metabolites, and maintenance of photosynthetic organelles are largely expressed under fresh conditions. However, as the dehydration proceeds, transcripts associated with oxidoreductive and antioxidant activities, response to hormone and light signaling, carbohydrate metabolism, nucleic acid maintenance, protective maintenance of photosystems I and II, and cytoskeletal re-arrangement are more prevalent than the fresh condition. The combination of molecular information from RNA-Seq and biochemical assays provides valuable information on the essential components in Pleopeltis that provide desiccation tolerance. Future work will focus on quantifying candidate genes using RT-qPCR.

1 - University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Biology, 410 E. St. Mary Blvd, Billeaud Hall, Lafayette, LA, 70504, United States
2 - University of LethBridge
3 - University of LethBridge, Biology
4 - Plant Biology Division, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK, 73401, United States
5 - University Of Louisiana, Department Of Biology, 410 E. St. Mary Blvd, Lafayette, LA, 70503, United States

Keywords:
fern
Pleopeltis polypodioides
abiotic stress
Drought Tolerance
epiphyte
RNA-seq.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P3, Pteridology Posters
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Wednesday, July 21st, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM(EDT)
Number: P3PT001
Abstract ID:382
Candidate for Awards:Phytochemical Best Poster Award