Transcriptional regulation of hormone-synthesis and signaling pathways by overexpressing cytokinin-synthesis contributes to improved drought tolerance in creeping bentgrass.

The objective of this study was to investigate transcriptomic changes and molecular factors regulated by cytokinins that may contribute to improved drought tolerance in creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) overexpressing adenine isopentenyltransferase (ipt). Wild-type (WT) and ipt-transgenic plants were maintained well irrigated or exposed to 21 days of drought stress in growth chambers. Transcriptomic analysis conducted by RNA-seq revealed 661 and 648 upregulated and 764 and 862 downregulated drought-responsive genes (DRGs) in the WT and ipt-transgenic plants, respectively, under drought stress using adjusted P-value of 0.001 and log