La Trobe University scientists analyzed the molecular characteristics of
Arabidopis, rice, and barley and found varied responses to common
abiotic stresses. The results are published in/BMC Plant Biology/.

Selecting target genes and pathways to alter response to abiotic
stresses requires information on the molecular similarities or
differences between plants, such as model or crop species. Thus, Adreas
Hartmann and team analyzed the transcriptomatic responses of model plant
Arabidopsis, and crops rice and barley to six treatments including
hormones, treatments that cause oxidative stress, inhibit respiration,
or induce genetic damage.

Results showed common and conflicting reactions of Arabidopsis, rice,
and barley. Several differentially expressed genes were found between
treatments and species, wherein 70% of the genes overlapped with at
least one other treatment within a species, which implies the presence
of an overlapping response network. About 15 to 34% of the genes,
including prominent salt-stress responsive genes, showed opposite
reactions between species, which indicates diversity in responses.

Cross-species transcriptomic analyses reveals common and opposite
responses in Arabidopsis, rice and barley following oxidative stress and
hormone treatment | BMC Plant Biology | Full Text (biomedcentral.com)
[bmcplantbiol.biomedcentral.com]