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Starch Metabolism and Stomatal Regulation Enhance Drought Resilience in Barley: An Integrated Multi-Omics Analysis
Sha Zhang1, Tiantian Wu1, Yin Han1
1MARA Key Laboratory of Sustainable Crop Production in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterlogging Disaster and Agricultural Use of Wetland, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China.
Abstract:
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance in barley is crucial for food security. This study employed integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to investigate drought responses in tolerant (EC_S1) and sensitive (Baudin) barley. We identified key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and metabolites (DEMs), highlighting genotype-specific strategies in stress adaptation. The drought-tolerant EC_S1 exhibited enhanced activation of pathways related to plant hormone signaling, antioxidant metabolism (e.g., glutathione), and energy mobilization. Functional characterization revealed that silencing HvGH14, a β-amylase gene, impaired maltose metabolism and osmotic adjustment, while silencing HvTPK1, a potassium channel gene, disrupted ABA-mediated stomatal closure. These findings elucidate the metabolic and transcriptional basis of drought tolerance in barley and provide potential genetic targets for improving crop resilience and sustainable agriculture.