Abstract: The WRKY transcription factor is involved in the developmental process and stress response of plant. To better understand the function of foxtail millet SiWRKY03 gene, its biological characteristics was analyzed by means of bioinformatics software. Real-time PCR was used to survey the expression profile in different tissues and the rust resistance response. The results showed that the open reading frame of SiWRKY03 gene contained 1 137 bp, encoding 378 amino acids with a WRKY conserved domain. The predicted protein molecular weight was 39.73 ku and the theoretical isoelectric point(pI) was 5.91. The largest secondary structure element of SiWRKY03 protein was random coil, and the smallest element was beta turn. Phylogenetic analysis showed that SiWRKY03 protein had 99% homology with those of Panicum miliaceum (RLM93064.1) and Panicum hallii (PAN29607.1). Expression patterns showed that SiWRKY03 gene of foxtail millet was expressed in roots, stems, leaves and panicles at booting stage, and the highest expression level was in roots and the lowest in panicles, which was consistent with the result of transcriptome data. During the responses to rust stress of foxtail millet, the expression of SiWRKY03 gene was up-regulated at 12,36 h in disease resistance response, but it had no significant change in the whole process of susceptible reaction, suggesting that SiWRKY03 played a positive regulatory role in the rust disease resistance of foxtail millet. The results provided a theoretical foundation for further study of the SiWRKY03 function and its resistance mechanism in foxtail millet.

Key words: Foxtail millet, Rust disease, WRKY transcription factor, Gene expression, Disease resistance

CLC Number: 

• S515.03

• Q78