Scientific Journal

Evaluation of Physiological Responses and CONSTANS-Like Gene Expression Under Late-Season Drought Stress in Two Wheat Genotypes

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Plant Production and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

10.22034/pgr.2025.2069839.1014
Abstract
Terminal drought stress severely constrains wheat production in arid and semi-arid regions such as Iran, where yield stability is heavily reliant on unpredictable spring precipitation. The CONSTANS-Like (COL) gene family integrates light signals and circadian rhythms to regulate flowering time and is also involved in abiotic stress adaptation. This study investigated the physiological and transcriptional responses of eight COL gene family members to terminal drought stress in the flag leaf tissue of a synthetic hexaploid wheat line, in comparison to the commercial cultivar Pishgam. A split plot experiment was performed under field conditions the fram of a randomized complete block design with three replications. Two The main factor was irrigation regimes (well-watered and drought-stressed) and two genotypes were located in subplots. The synthetic line maintained higher levels of photosynthetic pigments and exhibited enhanced activity of key antioxidant enzymes, particularly superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD), under both conditions. Under well-watered conditions, all homeologous groups showed higher transcript abundance in the synthetic line, correlating with its accelerated growth and early flowering phenotype. Under drought stress, one homeologous group was downregulated in both genotypes, whereas the other two were significantly upregulated, with markedly stronger induction in the synthetic line. This expression pattern suggests their involvement in promoting early maturity and desiccation escape mechanisms. The coordinated enhancement of antioxidant defense and selective upregulation of specific COL genes indicates a synergistic interaction between oxidative stress mitigation and developmental acceleration under drought conditions. Collectively, these findings indicate that superior tolerance to late drought of the artificial wheat line is associated with stable photosynthetic performance and a distinct COL gene expression profile, making this line a suitable candidate for cultivation in areas with late-season drought stress.

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