THE EXPRESSION PROFILES OF SELECTED GENES IN DIFFERENT BEAN SPECIES (PHASEOLUS SPP.) AS RESPONSE TO WATER DEFICIT

The aim of this study was to compare expression profiles of a number of transcripts from leaves of different Phaseolus species under drought stress, in order to ascertain whether changes in their expression in Phaseolus spp. are part of a general or a species specific response to drought. Relative gene expression analysis using quantitative PCR were carried out in P. coccineus, P. lunatus and P. acutifolius for 13 transcripts previously identified as up- or down-regulated in leaves of P. vulgaris. The mode of expression was found consistent within Phaseolus spp., despite the fact that the four species differ in their responses to drought at the physiological and morphological levels. The present results suggest that this is a common feature of the response of Phaseolus spp. The majority of the genes shown here to be influenced by water deficit in beans have been reported in other plant species under similar conditions, suggesting that they play a role in the general response to drought stress.