Molecular Mechanism of Abnormal Developmental Morphology of Bean under High Temperature Conditions

Abstract

Legumes are among the most consumed foods in the world and our country due to their high protein content. Beans have an essential for human nutrition among the legumes due to their rich nutritional value. However, the increased temperature with global warming causes the plants grown to be stressed. Plants grown at very high temperatures experienced yield losses, and at the same time, some mutations occur in their genes. In this study, the bean genotype Bitlis-76 (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was grown in the greenhouse area of Mersin University. In the spring period when the plant was grown, abnormal organ development morphology was observed due to the sudden increase in temperature. Contiguous leaves and adjacent pods, characterized as non-separation, were observed in the leaves and fruit of the plant. Therefore, RNA was isolated from adjacent leaves and pods of P. vulgaris to elucidate the non-separation state of the organs. However, since quality RNA isolation from the pod could not be performed, further analyzes were performed with RNA from adjacent leaves. The expression level of WUSCHEL (WUS), CLAVATA (CLV), and FASCIATA (FAS) genes, which are known to be influential on organ development in the literature, were examined, and the effects of these genes on the non-disjunction observed in the Bitlis-76 bean genotype were investigated. Expression of the FAS gene in the adjacent leaf was significantly higher than in the control plant. Because the expression level of the FAS gene, known to regulate shoot apical meristem cells, was high in adjacent leaf samples belonging to the Bitlis-76 bean genotype, it was interpreted that this gene may affect this situation. This study is the first to investigate the effect of the FAS gene on abnormal leaf development in the Bitlis-76 bean genotype.