F. Amini - Dept of Biology, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak, Iran.
A.A. Ehsanpour - Dept of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

The expression pattern of TomPRO2 and LaPA1 genes in two tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cultivars named as Isfahani and Shirazi under in vitro salt stress were investigated. Four to six weeks old in vitro grown seedlings were transferred on MS medium containing 0, 80 and 160 mM NaCl and untreated plants were used as control. RNA was extracted from root and leaf and then cDNA was synthesized. Semi-quantitative analysis of TomPRO2 and LaPA1 expression using specific primers showed that with increasing of NaCl concentration from 0 to 160 mM, the expression level of TomPRO2 and LaPA1 genes in roots of both tomato cultivars did not change significantly. In leaf TomPR2 gene expression decreased significantly at 160 mM NaCl. At the same concentration of NaCl (160 mM) LaPA1 gene expression in leaf increased significantly. Based on the obtained results, TomPRO2 and LaPA1 genes have different expression patterns under in vitro salt stress in tomato root and leaf. However, both genes have a role in response to salt stress.

Tomato, Salt stress, Semi quantitative RT PCR, Gene expression