A series of complex transport, storage and regulation mechanisms control iron metabolism and thereby maintain iron homeostasis in plants. Despite several studies on iron deficiency responses in different plant species, these mechanisms remain unclear in the allohexaploid wheat, which is the most widely cultivated commercial crop. We used RNA sequencing to reveal transcriptomic changes in the wheat flag leaves and roots, when subjected to iron limited conditions. We identified 5969 and 2591 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the flag leaves and roots, respectively. Genes involved in the synthesis of iron ligands i.e., nicotianamine (NA) and deoxymugineic acid (DMA) were significantly up-regulated during iron deficiency. In total, 337 and 635 genes encoding transporters exhibited altered expression in roots and flag leaves, respectively. Several genes related to MAJOR FACILITATOR SUPERFAMILY (MFS), ATP-BINDING CASSETTE (ABC) transporter superfamily, NATURAL RESISTANCE ASSOCIATED MACROPHAGE PROTEIN (NRAMP) family and OLIGOPEPTIDE TRANSPORTER (OPT) family were regulated, indicating their important roles in combating iron deficiency stress. Among the regulatory factors, the genes encoding for transcription factors of BASIC HELIX-LOOP-HELIX (bHLH) family were highly up-regulated in both roots and the flag leaves. The jasmonate biosynthesis pathway was significantly altered but with notable expression differences between roots and flag leaves. Homoeologs expression and induction bias analysis revealed subgenome specific differential expression. Our findings provide an integrated overview on regulated molecular processes in response to iron deficiency stress in wheat. This information could potentially serve as a guideline for breeding iron deficiency stress tolerant crops as well as for designing appropriate wheat iron biofortification strategies.

一系列复杂的运输，存储和调节机制可控制铁的代谢，从而维持植物体内的铁稳态。尽管对不同植物物种对铁缺乏的反应进行了数项研究，但在异种六倍体小麦中，这些机制仍不清楚，这是耕种最广泛的商业作物。当受铁限制条件时，我们使用RNA测序揭示了小麦旗叶和根中的转录组变化。我们在旗叶和根中分别鉴定出5969和2591个差异表达基因（DEG）。在铁缺乏期间，参与铁配体合成的基因，即烟碱胺（NA）和脱氧ugineic酸（DMA）显着上调。总共，编码转运蛋白的337和635个基因分别在根和旗叶中表现出改变的表达。主要易SUPERFAMILY（MFS），ATP结合盒（ABC）转运超家族，阻力自然科学相关巨噬细胞蛋白（NRAMP）家庭和寡肽转运体（OPT）的家人被调控，说明在打击缺铁胁迫他们的重要作用。在调控因子中，编码BASIC HELIX-LOOP-HELIX（bHLH）转录因子的基因）的根和旗叶都被上调。茉莉酸酯的生物合成途径被显着改变，但根与旗叶之间的表达差异显着。同系物表达和诱导偏差分析揭示了亚基因组特异性差异表达。我们的研究结果提供了针对小麦中铁缺乏胁迫的调控分子过程的综合综述。该信息可能会为育种耐缺铁胁迫的农作物提供指导，并为设计适当的小麦铁生物强化策略提供指导。