Integrated Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses Responses to Altitude Stress in Oat (Avena sativa L.)

Oat is an annual gramineous forage grass with the remarkable ability to survive under various stressful environments. However, understanding effects of high altitude stresses on oats poor. Therefore, physiological and transcriptomic changes were analyzed at two sites different altitudes, low (ca. 2,080 m) or 2,918 m), respectively. Higher levels antioxidant enzyme activity, reactive oxygen major reductions in photosynthesis-related markers suggested for altitudes. Furthermore, oat yields severely suppressed altitude. RNA-seq results showed that 11,639 differentially expressed genes detected both altitudes which 5,203 up-regulated 6,436 down-regulated. Gene Ontology Kyoto Encyclopedia Genes Genomes pathway enrichment tests conducted a group altitude-responsive pigment metabolism genes, photosynthesis, hormone signaling, cutin, suberine wax biosynthesis excavated. Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain response, we also confirmed expression 20 DEGs (qRT-PCR). In summary, our study generated genome-wide transcript profile may be useful molecular mechanisms Avena sativa L. response stress. These new findings contribute deeper relevant researches further exploring candidategenes adapting plateau environment breeding.