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Published on: August 25, 2018
Integration of transcriptome and metabolome reveals candidate metabolites responding to drought stress in sugarcane
Chaoqi Wang1, Ta QuangKiet1, Wenqing Li1
1State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530005, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology & National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, Guangxi University, Nanning 530005, China.
Abstract:
Drought stress severely restricts sugarcane (Saccharum spp. cultivars) productivity, a globally vital sugar crop, yet the metabolic basis of its drought resistance remains elusive. Here, we integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles of drought-stressed sugarcane to decipher the regulatory mechanisms. Using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), we identified 157 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 18 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) specifically induced under drought stress. These DEGs/DAMs were co-enriched in 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism and branched-chain amino acid (valine/leucine/isoleucine) degradation pathways. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we pinpointed three hub metabolites, tryptophan, proline, and 6-methylquinoline (6-MQ), exhibit a significant correlation with DEGs. Functional validation demonstrated that exogenous 6-MQ application significantly enhanced drought tolerance in sugarcane (17.6 % lower mortality) without growth penalty. Our study not only unravels a novel 6-MQ-mediated regulatory module but also provides valuable metabolite resources for improving drought resistance in sugarcane breeding.
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