Overexpression of the TaEXPA19 gene improves low-temperature tolerance in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Abstract

Low temperature is one of the main abiotic stresses that affects plant growth, causing serious damage or even death to plants. The differential expression of the TaEXPA19 gene in the above and underground parts of winter wheat and the implications for cold resistance remain unclear. In this study, the TaEXPA19 gene was cloned and analysed for expression in winter wheat, and transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana was constructed to investigate the effect of the TaEXPA19 gene in response to low-temperature stress on plant growth. The TaEXPA19-A and TaEXPA19-D genes have different response patterns in the above and underground parts of transgenic A. thaliana. When plants were subjected to low-temperature stress, the leaves were quickly upregulated and the roots were downregulated, and then upregulated to respond to low-temperature stress to promote the growth of leaf length and leaf width petiole length. The results indicated that TaEXPA19 genes could improve low-temperature tolerance in plants. The results of this study laid a foundation for the study of the cold resistance of winter wheat.