Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026

A Simple Method for Isolation of Soybean Protoplasts and Application to Transient Gene Expression Analyses
Published on: January 25, 2018
Effects of temperature during soybean seed development on defense-related gene expression and fungal pathogen
Robert G Upchurch1, Martha E Ramirez
1USDA-ARS Soybean & Nitrogen Fixation Unit, Department of Plant Pathology, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7616, USA. greg.upchurch@ars.usda.gov
Abstract:
Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] plants were exposed to three temperature regimens during seed development to investigate the effect of temperature on the expression of eight defense-related genes and the accumulation of two fungal pathogens in inoculated seeds. In seeds prior to inoculation, either a day/night warm (34/26 °C) or a cool temperature (22/18 °C) relative to normal (26/22 °C) resulted in altered patterns of gene expression including substantially lower expression of PR1, PR3 and PR10. After seed inoculation with Cercospora kikuchii, pathogen accumulation was lowest in seeds produced at 22/18 °C in which of all defense genes, MMP2 was uniquely most highly induced. For seeds inoculated with Diaporthe phaseolorum, pathogen accumulation was lowest in seeds produced at 34/26 °C in which of all defense genes, PR10 was uniquely most highly induced. Our detached seed assays clearly demonstrated that the temperature regimens we applied during seed development produced significant changes in seed defense-related gene expression both pre- and post inoculation and our findings support the hypothesis that global climate change may alter plant-pathogen interactions and thereby potentially crop productivity.
Related Concept Videos
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature
Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: Temperature
Seed Structure and Early Development of the Sporophyte
Gene Regulation During Sporulation

