Role of ERF Genes in Root Related Abiotic Stresses

Climate Changes can cause large yield reductions in cultivated plants through the occurrence of biotic and abiotic stresses applied to the root system. Mining for stress tolerance genes constitutes an important tool to develop superior crops and a better understanding of stress response mechanisms is needed in order to find candidates for crop improvement. ERF gene family members are among the major environmental stress responsive genes. The mRNA levels for different ERFs are regulated by many hormones and molecules, produced under different stress conditions.  In this study, with the goal of identifying the response of rice ERF genes to environmental stress, cis regulatory element composition in the promoter regions and the digital and qPCR expression profiles of these genes under stress by anoxia, salt, iron and Magnaporthe grisea were obtained. The functional significance of genetic and epigenetic controls found in some genes is also discussed.