Extrapolation of significant genes and transcriptional regulatory networks involved in Zea mays in response in UV-B stress.

A wide range of plant species growth influenced when they exposed to solar UV-B radiation. Leaves of the plant are highly affected by UV-B radiation lead to the reduction in the growth of the plant. Current work demonstrates the comparative transcriptional changes and visible symptoms occurred in the maize leaf growth zone (GZ). Primary objective of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) responsible for leaf growth and their association in the transcriptional regulatory network under UV-B stress. Whole transcriptomic data was analysed and the quality check was tested for each sample and further genome-wide mapping and DEGs were performed. Gene Ontology (GO) based functional annotation, associated transcriptional networks and molecular pathways were annotated. Reduction in cell production due to UV-B stress causes a decrease in leaf's length and size was observed. Further, the specific role of the DEGs, in UV-B signalling pathways and other molecular functions responsible for leaf cell death was discovered. Results also infer that the major changes occurred in the cell cycle, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional modification, phytohormones, flavonoids biosynthesis, and chromatin remodeling. UV-B signalling pathways and the transcriptional regulatory networks infer the different molecular steps along with downstream transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of metabolic enzymes used in long-term memory adoption and attainment resistance to UV-B stress identified. Effects of UV-B radiation on leaf growth was noted in this study. UV-B stress response genes and associated transcriptional regulatory networks were identified, can be used in developing the marker assist UB-B stress tolerant genotypes of the maize.