Functional Analysis of Tadhn1312 by Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) in Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is an important tool for gene function analysis in plants. In the present study, the function identification of a candidate gene named Tadhn1312 encoding Dehydrin protein obtained from the high-throughput transcriptome was carried out by VIGS. Leaves appeared the chlorotic phenotype and the transcript level of TaPDS decreased rapidly at 7 days after the inoculation by BSMV: TaPDS, which indicated that the virus had successfully infected wheat leaves and the BSMV system was efficient. The chlorophyll content of leaves with BSMV: TaPDS and BSMV: Tadhn1312 inoculation decreased at 7 days, and reached significant level compared with the control. After the inoculation by BSMV: Tadhn1312, the transcript level of Tadhn1312 was rapidly decreased at 7 days, and reached the minimum value at 21 days, indicated that Tadhn1312 had been silenced. The spike differentiation procession of wheat plants inoculated by BSMV: Tadhn1312 was late than that inoculated by BSMV: 00. The result showed that the silencing of Tadhn1312 prolonged the spike differentiation process, illustrating that Tadhn1312 gene was involved in the spike differentiation process of wheat directly or indirectly.