Significance of a β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase gene expression for wheat tolerance to adverse environments

TaCer6 was firstly cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and identified as a tissue-specific gene in wheat. To determine if environmental factors such as drought and low temperature induce TaCer6 transcription, we examined the effects of these factors on TaCer6 in two wheat cultivars. Our results demonstrated that light was essential for TaCer6 transcription, salt stress inhibited TaCer6 expression and application of salicylic acid enhanced TaCer6 transcripts accumulation. In addition, polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) and abscisic acid increased the expression of TaCer6 more in the drought- and cold-tolerant cultivar Jinmai47 than in non-tolerant cultivar Shi4185. Low temperature increased TaCer6 transcription in Jinmai47 while decreased it in Shi4185.