Comparative transcriptome analysis of two varieties of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to identify candidate drought resistance genes

Abstract

In this work, we studied the physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying the response to polyethylene glycol (PEG) in a drought-resistant variety ‘HZYTJ’ and the sensitive variety ‘WZWJD’ of common beans. The two bean varieties were subjected to a 10% PEG simulated drought stress treatment, and the resultant physiological and biochemical characteristics of the leaves and roots were compared. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and other indicators were higher in ‘HZYTJ’ than in ‘WZWJD’; additionally, the ‘HZYTJ’ exhibited slower changes in response to stress. The proline content in ‘HZYTJ’ changed slowly compared to that in ‘WZWJD’. The transcriptome analysis of the two varieties showed that 1,361 and 1,447 genes were differentially expressed in ‘HZYTJ’ and ‘WZWJD’, respectively. DEGs were also analyzed via the KEGG pathway database, and 10 significant metabolic pathways were found to be involved in ‘HZYTJ’, while nine were found in ‘WZWJD’. Using the GO function database, we found that 111 significant GO terms were involved in ‘HZYTJ’, whereas 125 were involved in ‘WZWJD’. Through analysis of transcription factors, 487 DEGs were identified, of which bHLH transcription factors were the most abundant, followed by ERF, MYB-related, B3 and other transcription factor families. The selected and screened genes with DEGs were validated by qRT–PCR. These results provide a basis for further research into the drought resistance of the common bean.

Keywords:

• Phaseolus vulgaris L.
• drought stress
• transcriptome
• drought resistance

Acknowledgements

We thank Bioeditas Technology Corporation (Shaanxi, China; www.bioeditas.cn) for performing RNA sequencing and providing technical assistance during the data analysis.

Authors’ contributions

S.Z. and D.Z. conceived and designed the study with the help of M.L.; S.Z., D.Z., T.L., T.W., G.X. performed the experiments and analyzed the data; S. Z and D.Z. drafted and wrote the manuscript; S. Z, D.Z. and M.L. revised the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Data availability statement

The raw RNA sequencing data to NCBI at (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA946172) under accession numbers (SRX19727897-SRX19727914). All data that support the findings reported in this study are available from the corresponding author Meilan Li upon reasonable request ([email protected] or [email protected]).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Shanxi Province’s key research and development projects, dryland vegetable bean quality efficiency machine integrated green production technology research and demonstration (201703D211002-7-4).