Investigation of the Expression of Genes Encoding UGP, 60s L23a and SAUR23 Proteins under Zn Deficiency Conditions in Zn-efficient and Zn-inefficient Bread Wheat cultivars

Pirmohammadi Balangi, Soraya; Abdollahi Mandoulakani, Babak

doi:10.22034/pgr.2026.2077113.1023

Investigation of the Expression of Genes Encoding UGP, 60s L23a and SAUR23 Proteins under Zn Deficiency Conditions in Zn-efficient and Zn-inefficient Bread Wheat cultivars

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Soraya Pirmohammadi Balangi

Babak Abdollahi Mandoulakani ^¶

Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

10.22034/pgr.2026.2077113.1023

Abstract

To evaluate the impact of zinc (Zn) deficiency stress on the expression of genes encoding UTP-glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (UGP), the auxin-responsive protein SAUR23 (SAUR23), and the ribosomal protein 60sL23a (60sL23a) in Zn-efficient and -inefficient cultivars of bread wheat, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications under greenhouse conditions. Two cultivars, Niknejad (Zn-efficient) and Farin (Zn-inefficient), were grown under Zn-deficient and Zn-sufficient conditions (0 and 5 mg Zn kg⁻¹ soil, respectively). Gene expression levels were quantified in flag leaves and roots at two growth stages (30% heading and grain filling) using real-time PCR technique. The results indicated that the greatest increase in UGP expression (1.2-fold relative to the control) under Zn deficiency occurred in the flag leaf of the Farin cultivar at the 30% heading stage. This upregulation is likely associated with modulation of the sucrose biosynthesis pathway and enhanced allocation of photosynthates to developing grains. Moreover, SAUR23 expression in the flag leaf of the Niknejad cultivar increased approximately 3.5-fold compared with the control at the grain filling stage, suggesting a potential role in regulating polar auxin transport under Zn-deficient conditions. Expression of 60sL23a was also upregulated in the roots of both cultivars under Zn deficiency at the grain filling stage; however, the magnitude of induction was significantly greater in Niknejad than in Farin. This differential expression may be linked to enhanced translational regulation and energy-related signaling pathways. Overall, the elevated expression of SAUR23 and 60sL23a in the Zn-efficient cultivar Niknejad suggests that Zn-efficient bread wheat genotypes may mitigate Zn deficiency stress through targeted transcriptional regulation of genes involved in hormone signaling and protein synthesis.

Keywords

UTP-glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase

Zn efficiency

Zn deficiency

Bread wheat

Real time PCR

Subjects

Plant Genetics

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