Effect of zinc excess and low temperature on the IRT1 gene expression in the roots and leaves of barley

We studied the effect of zinc excess (1000 µM) and low temperature (4 °C) on the IRT1 gene expression in barley roots and leaves. Exposure at each of the stress factors separately, induced an increase in the content of the HvIRT1 gene transcripts, more pronounced in the leaves. At the same time, growth of seedlings continued. Under the combined action of factors in the first 3 days, the amount of mRNA also increased, but after 7 days of exposure it significantly declined, which corresponded with a complete inhibition of seedlings growth. It is assumed that the seedlings growth inhibition under the combined effect of the zinc excess and low temperature is associated with a decrease in the transcriptional activity of the HvIRT1 gene, due to the deficiency of a number of trace elements under these conditions.