Study of geranyl diphosphate synthase gene expression in Peppermint plant under drought, salinity and temperature stresses

Peppermint is a very valuable medicinal plant that contains a valuable substance called menthol, which has antifungal and antimicrobial activity. In the biosynthesis of the production of menthol, the gene of geranyl diphosphate synthase plays an important role, as it is at the beginning of the production of menthol. Environmental conditions can affect the quality and amount of menthol.Accordingly, rhizome sprouts after disinfection were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium under salinity stress (0-50-100 mM sodium chloride), drought (0-50-100-150 mM Mannitol) and temperature (23, 26 and 29°C). All experiments were performed based on a completely randomized design with two replications. First, the extraction of RNA and cDNA synthesis was performed for all plants. The qPCR method was used to determine the gene expression and then the gene expression level was measured. The results showed that expression of geranyl diphosphate synthase gene was highest in a combination with drought (0 mannitol), salinity (100 mM sodium chloride) and temperature (23°C). It was also found that salinity levels from 0 to 100 mM sodium chloride had no negative effect on gene expression of geranyl diphosphate synthase and did not reduce the expression of this gene, while high levels of temperature and drought have a negative effect on the expression of geranyl diphosphate synthase gene.

Keywords:

Drought , Geranyl diphosphate synthase gene , Peppermint , Salinity , Temperature