Identification of proteins in sensitive and tolerant lines of sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) under water deficit

Abstract

The importance of examining environmental stresses and their role in predicting and evaluating the growth and yield of crops is very evident. Environmental stresses are the most important factor in reducing agricultural yields worldwide. In order to evaluate the environmental impact of water loss on the amount of proteins affected in sunflower, an experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications at Karaj Oil Seeds Research Institute. In order to study the response of susceptible line (BGK221) and tolerant line (RGK46) under drought stress conditions, extraction of protein by acetone deposition method was performed in 8 leaves and of 3 seedlings in each replication. The amount of extracted protein was determined by Bradford method using two-dimensional electrophoresis and existence of significant difference between the bands in sensitive and tolerant lines was investigated. A total of 467 repeatable bands were found in the tolerant line and 417 repeatable bands appeared in the sensitive line. Among these proteins, 6 bands in tolerant line (No 503, 1901, 904, 3301, 7011, 9005) and 6 bands in sensitive line (No 704, 811, 3205, 4108, 7307, and 9207) were significantly affected by drought stress. In both sensitive and tolerate lines the main consequence is increase in amount of protein. The results showed that the most important factor of tolerant line adaptive for environmental stress conditions is maintaining normal cell metabolism, keeping moisture in the cell, strengthening cellular structure and antioxidant defense. The study also showed that drought stress had the greatest effect on cytoplasmic and nucleus proteins, metabolism and energy of proteins

Keywords

• sunflower
• environmental stress
• two-dimensional electrophoresis
• proteomics