Assessment of genetic relationships, and catalase gene expression in response to drought stress in various cultivars of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

academic staff of Research and Technology Institute of Plant Production, Afzalipour Research Institute, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

10.22103/jab.2025.23539.1669

Abstract

Objective
Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an economically important vegetable crop and its quantity and quality are influenced by water deficit. The study of genetic relationships and the genes involved in drought stress tolerance is essential in plant breeding programs and will help in the adoption of management strategies in dry areas. In this study, genetic variation and population structure of eggplant cultivars were identified using ISSR marker. Additionally, the expression of the catalase gene in response to drought stress was evaluated in selected three cultivars.

Materials and methods
DNA was extracted from leaf samples of 23 eggplants using the modified CTAB method and a polymerase chain reaction was done by 10 ISSR primers. Three cultivars Greta, Sally, and Melusina were selected from each class identified through cluster analysis to assess gene expression under drought stress. Drought treatments were imposed in the first stage of plant growth by stopping irrigation for 17 and 23 days in moderate and long-term stress, respectively. Gene-specific primer to assess gene expression was catalase. RT-qPCR was done in technical triplicates using a Rotor-Gene Q. The reference gene for normalization of gene expression was actin.

Results
The mean polymorphism percentage in this study was 73%. Primer (AG)8YC exhibited the highest polymorphism percentage and marker index, along with high PIC and Shannon index values. According to the analysis of molecular variance, the genetic variance between the three subpopulations was highly significant. Population structure analysis and cluster analysis based on phenotypic and molecular data divided cultivars into three main clusters. Catalase gene expression has been significantly increased under long-term drought stress in compared to the control in three cultivars of eggplant. The Melusina cultivar, with a value of 3.56 showed the highest gene expression in long-term drought stress.

Conclusions
The ISSR marker serves as a suitable tool for evaluating the differentiation within eggplant populations. This marker in combination with other codominance primers can be used for future studies in eggplant. Additionally, the catalase gene plays a significant role in breeding programs of eggplant in arid regions and the Melusina cultivar can be introduced as a drought-adapted cultivar, if the results are confirmed by subsequent studies.

Keywords

References

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Agricultural Biotechnology Journal
Volume 17, Issue 3
August 2025
Pages 49-68

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