Effect of Zinc Excess and Low Temperature on the IRT1 Gene Expression in the Roots and Leaves of Barley

Abstract

We studied the effect of zinc excess (1000 μM) and low positive temperature (4°C) on the IRT1 gene expression in barley roots and leaves. Exposure at each of the stress factors separately induced an increase in the content of the HvIRT1 gene transcripts, which was more pronounced in leaves. At the same time, the growth of seedlings continued. Under the combined action of the stress factors in the first 3 days, the amount of mRNA also increased, but after 7 days of exposure it significantly declined, which correlated with the complete inhibition of seedling growth. It is assumed that the seedling growth inhibition under the combined effect of zinc excess and low temperature is associated with a decrease in the transcriptional activity of the HvIRT1 gene, due to the deficiency in a number of trace elements under these conditions.