Abstract:
Arachis hypogaea, a crucial crop in Pakistan, provides widely consumed seeds used for food
and oil production, containing valuable minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins. Drought, a
significant environmental factor, limits peanut cultivation and increases the risk of aflatoxin
contamination, making them unsuitable for human consumption. Exploring novel drought
control methods is essential to sustain peanut production. This study focuses on the
morphological, physiological, biochemical analysis and expression profiling of potential
drought-tolerant genes in two peanut varieties. In-silico analysis was performed to examine
master regulators of drought responsive genes in NAC family, including homology modeling,
subcellular localization, cis-regulatory elements, chromosomal mapping, and protein-protein
interactions. Drought stress and recovery responses were analyzed in two peanut varieties - the
local BARD479 and NARC2019. NARC 2019 performed better in morphological,
physiological parameters and antioxidant enzymes like SOD, POD, CAT, APX, GST, and
MDA as compared to other variety. Scanning electron microscopy visualized closed stomata
in the drought treated NARC2019 variety. Biochemical assays showed increased antioxidants
in NARC2019 under drought, conferring tolerance. Additionally, NAC72 and NAC53 gene
expression was significantly upregulated during drought stress and came back to normal upon
rewatering. Overall, this study would provide a better understanding of the underlying
molecular mechanism of drought responsive genes in Arachis hypogaea.
