Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals common molecular factors responsive to heat and drought stress in Agrostis stolonifera

Heat and drought stress are primary abiotic stresses confining growth of cool-season grass species during summer. The objective of this study was to identify common molecular factors and metabolic pathways associated with heat and drought responses in creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) by comparative analysis of transcriptomic profiles between plants exposed to heat and drought stress. Plants were exposed to heat stress (35/30 °C day/night temperature) or drought stress by withholding irrigation for 21 d in growth chambers. Transcriptomic profiling by RNA-seq in A. stolonifera (cv. ‘Penncross’) found 670 commonly up-regulated and 812 commonly down-regulated genes by heat and drought stress. Transcriptional up-regulations of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) due to heat and drought stress include genes that were highly enriched in oxylipin biosynthetic process and proline biosynthetic process. Transcriptional down-regulations of genes under heat and drought stress were highly enriched and involved in thiamine metabolic process and calcium sensing receptor. These commonly-regulated genes by heat and drought stress identified in A. stolonifera suggested that drought and heat responses shared such common molecular factors and pathways, which could be potential candidate genes for genetic modification of improving plant tolerance to the combined heat and drought stress.