Determination of dna based molecular markers associated with drought tolerans in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), is an important plant grown worldwide as a source of protein, vitamins and minerals. It supplies the 20% of human calories and 35% of the world population including 40 countries used it as a basic dietary. Most of the areas in which wheat planted expose to drought and heat stresses which lead to reduce in yield efficiency and quality of wheat. Therefore the agriculture and breeding of wheat against unfavorable environmental conditions is getting more important due to being a basic dietary. In this study, genetic characterization among 11 bread wheat varieties was determined using 26 SSR markers. Further, some members of WRKY, zing finger protein (bZIP) transcription factors (TFs) and heat shock proteins (HSPs) gene expression levels were measured in leaf and root tissues in three varieties that exposed to heat, drought, both heat and drought with quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR). Whereas significant gene expression induction was detected in WRKY and HSP in resistant Zubkov, the expression levels were lower in susceptible Atay 85 and moderate resistant Karahan types. All the members of bZIP TFs revealed higher expression in leaf tissues of Zubkov and root tissues of Atay 85. As a result of this study, some members of WRKY, bZIP and HSPs showed tissue- or variety-specific gene expression patterns in resistant or susceptible types. The genetic characterization associated with drought was performed via SSR molecular markers and validated with the gene expression analysis. Consequently, Zubkov was found to be resistant in both stress conditions and demonstrated that it can be a successful candidate for breeding systems.