Browsing by Author "Lecaros Suarez, Barbara"

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    Respuesta Transcriptómica de la Variedad de Poroto Palo (Raza Chile) al Estrés Térmico Moderado
    (2025) Lecaros Suarez, Barbara; Schwember Neira, Andrés R.; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Facultad de Agronomía y Sistemas Naturales
    Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a legume of high nutritional and agronomic value, whose yield is affected by heat conditions associated with climate change. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of moderate heat stress applied at the beginning of pod filling on physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic variables in leaves and seeds of P. vulgaris Chilean race (Palo variety) grown in greenhouse conditions. Reproductive parameters, total protein content, chlorophyll, nitrogen, anthocyanins, and flavonoids were measured. In parallel, gene expression was analyzed using RNA sequencing, differential expression analysis, functional enrichment, and data visualization tools such as principal component analysis, volcano plots, and heatmaps. A 38.2% reduction in total seed weight per plant and a 16.7% decrease in average seed weight were observed, along with transient increases in protein content and changes in chlorophyll and nitrogen levels post-stress. At the transcriptomic level, differentially expressed genes associated with heat response were identified, including members of the HSP20 family and “squamosa-binding-like" transcription factors. A glycine-rich protein gene also stood out, with specific expression in leaves during the post-stress phase, suggesting a potential role in local heat response; although not yet characterized in P. vulgaris, this type of gene has been linked to cell wall remodeling and abiotic stress response in other species. These results reveal a tissue- and stage-specific response to moderate heat stress and provide a foundation for future genetic improvement efforts in local common bean varieties.