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Integrative Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Identifies Potential Pathways Associated with Cadmium Tolerance in
Pingxi Wang1, Min Li1, Xingye Ma1
1State Key Laboratory of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping and High-Efficiency Production, School of Agriculture, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang 453003, China.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 27, 2025
Summary
Maize lines show different responses to cadmium (Cd) stress, with resistant lines maintaining stable physiology and gene expression. Phenylpropanoid and zeatin biosynthesis pathways are key to cadmium tolerance in maize.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Genomics
- Metabolomics
Background:
- Cadmium (Cd) stress significantly impacts plant traits and transport, but mechanisms remain unclear.
- Understanding Cd stress responses is crucial for agricultural productivity and food safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular and metabolic mechanisms of Cd tolerance in maize.
- To compare the responses of a Cd-resistant (Chang7_2) and a Cd-sensitive (Zheng58) maize inbred line to Cd stress.
Main Methods:
- Physiological assessments of morphological and antioxidant enzyme activity.
- Transcriptomic analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs).
- Metabolomic analysis to identify differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs).
Main Results:
- Cd-resistant maize (C7_2) showed less pronounced morphological and physiological changes than sensitive maize (Z58).
- Transcriptomic analysis revealed distinct DEGs and enriched pathways in each line, including plant hormone signal transduction and MAPK signaling in C7_2.
- Metabolomic analysis identified fewer DAMs in C7_2, with phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and zeatin biosynthesis highlighted as crucial for Cd tolerance.
Conclusions:
- Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal key molecular and metabolic pathways conferring Cd tolerance in maize.
- Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and zeatin biosynthesis are critical for Cd resistance in maize.
- Findings provide a foundation for breeding Cd-tolerant maize varieties.
