Large scale analysis of transcripts abundance in barley subjected to several single and combined abiotic stress conditions

A barley cDNA microarray consisting of more than 300 sequences directly or indirectly related to abiotic stress response was used to investigate nine RNA samples derived from plants exposed to different stress conditions (two cold treatments, three dehydration treatments, salinity, high light and two copper treatments), among these samples two RNA samples derived from plants simultaneously exposed to two stress strains (heat and dehydration; cold and copper). Ninety-nine genes were declared up- or down-regulated in at least one of the tested conditions. The survey has found stress-specific sequences as well as genes commonly induced by different abiotic conditions. When the barley plants were challenged simultaneously with two abiotic factors the response was different from the response of the corresponding single stress conditions. Since in the fields the plants are frequently exposed to a combination of different stress factors these results point out the need of further studies to understand the interaction between the different abiotic stress responses. © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.