Identification and characterisation of aquaporins in wheat plants

Aquaporins are integral membrane proteins that play a vital role in maintaining water homeostasis in all living things. It also mediates bidirectional flux of water and transports some small solutes across cellular membranes. Aquaporins are reported to be differentially regulated under environmental adversities such as drought, salinity, chilling or flood, which affects the water uptake and transport. Wheat being the major staple food crop needs improvement in its quality and yield. This study aimed to identify the most salt-tolerant and sensitive cultivar by screening ten different hexaploid wheat cultivars based on morphological parameters observed under short term and long term salinity stress. Definite conclusion regarding the salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive cultivar could not be made. So, the study was continued with the existing 24 PIP (plasma membrane intrinsic proteins) and 11 TIP (tonoplast intrinsic proteins) genes isolated from common wheat (T. aestivum L. cv. Cranbrook) by Forrest and Bhave of SUT (Swinburne University of Technology). Genomic location of selected PIP1 and PIP2 genes were identified by PCR and sequencing, led to the identification of marker restriction enzymes of selected PIP genes from various genomic (diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid) origins.