Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Grafted Tomato with Drought Tolerance.

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Agricultural Science
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Grafting enhances crop production and stress tolerance in plants like tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.).
• The impact of grafting on gene expression in shoot apical meristem cells, particularly concerning stress tolerance, remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the effects of grafting on gene expression related to drought stress tolerance in tomato shoot apical meristem cells.
• To compare gene expression patterns between non-grafted and grafted tomato plants under drought conditions.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptomic analysis was conducted on grafted (Momotaro-scion with TD1, GS, GF rootstocks) and non-grafted tomato plants.
• Gene expression profiles were analyzed before and during drought stress treatment.

Main Results:

• Grafting with compatible rootstocks (TD1) and self-grafting significantly improved drought tolerance compared to non-grafted controls.
• Grafting altered gene expression involved in plant hormone regulation, stress response, and cell proliferation.
• Incompatible grafting (Momo/GF) reduced phytohormone-related gene expression but increased wounding and starvation stress-response genes.

Conclusions:

• Grafting confers drought stress tolerance in tomatoes through significant changes in apical meristem gene expression.
• The compatibility of rootstock influences the molecular mechanisms underlying stress response in grafted plants.