Comparative Transcriptome Profiling of Salinity-Induced Genes in Citrus Rootstocks with Contrasted Salt Tolerance

Salinity is one of the most destructive environmental challenges for citriculture worldwide, and all climate change scenarios are predicting an increased impact salinity on citrus orchards. Citrus cultivars grown as grafts various rootstocks to provide specific adaptation abiotic stress tolerance major diseases such tristeza virus. To understand rootstock–scion interactions with regard salinity, transcriptome profiling mRNA expression was analyzed 12 candidate genes in leaves, shoots, roots five Hernandina clementine scions grafted Rangpur lime (LR), Volkamer lemon (CV), Carrizo citrange (CC), sour orange (Big), Cleopatra mandarin (MC) response moderate severe salinity. qRT-PCR analysis revealed differential gene that varied by rootstock, level, tissue. The majority induced were those involved ion transporter proteins (mainly NHX1 HKT1 genes), Cl− homeostasis (CCC1 gene), biosynthesis accumulation compatible osmolytes, proline (P5CS gene) glycine betaine (CMO (LEA2 ROS scavenging antioxidant activity APX). We show these patterns could explain relative used report new insights main salt mechanisms activated rootstocks.