Transcriptomic Meta-Analysis Reveals Hub Genes Integrating Multiple Abiotic Stress Responses in Wheat

Abstract

Climatic challenges increasingly threaten global food security, necessitating crops with enhanced multi-stress resilience. Through systematic transcriptomic analysis of 100 wheat genotypes under heat, drought, cold, and salt stress, we identified 3237 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) enriched in key stress-response pathways. Core transcription factors (MYB, bHLH, HSF) and two functional modules governing abiotic tolerance were characterized. Phenotypic assessments revealed significant stress-induced alterations in plant height, biomass, and chlorophyll content. RT-qPCR confirmed marked upregulation of eight candidate genes, including BES1/BZR1 and GH14, across most stresses, indicating their critical role in wheat's adaptive responses. This study aims to identify potential genes linked to multiple abiotic stress tolerance and provides an experimental foundation as well as theoretical support for the future development of stress-resilient crops.