Expression profiles of stress responsive genes in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under abiotic stresses

Abiotic stress is one of the major limiting factors reducing crop yield worldwide. We studied the expression profiles of 12 known stress responsive genes including transcription factor genes in japonica standard rice cultivar Nipponbare under low temperature, drought, NaCl and ABA stresses by RT-PCR in a time series up to 24 h. Expression of all the selected candidate genes was induced at least under one abiotic stress. The observed levels of expression of the same genes differed under different stress conditions; some were positively regulated under some stresses but negatively regulated under other stresses. Our results showed the presence of both specific and common gene regulatory pathways for these stresses and provide information on selective markers useful in evaluating cereal germplasms.