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Updated: Oct 29, 2026

Semi-High Throughput Screening for Potential Drought-tolerance in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Germplasm Collections
Published on: April 17, 2015
PbCHS-dependent rutin accumulation contributes to drought tolerance in pear
Wanqi Shen1, Qijun Hu1, Juan Liu1
1Hunan Horticulture Research Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, Hunan Province, China; Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha, 410128, Hunan Province, China.
Abstract:
Drought is a major abiotic stress that limits plant growth and crop productivity. Hence, elucidating how plants respond to drought is critical for maintaining and improving yield under such conditions. Pear is an economically important fruit crop worldwide, yet their physiological and metabolic mechanisms underlying its drought tolerance remain largely unknown. Therefore, this study analyzed five local pear genotypes, and Yeshengli and Yedouli were identified as contrasting drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive genotypes, respectively. Yeshengli leaves exhibited a higher wax load than those of Yedouli, which may contribute to its greater drought tolerance. Integrated targeted metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that rutin accumulation was substantially higher in Yeshengli than in Yedouli under drought stress. Exogenous rutin application significantly improved drought tolerance in pear. Silencing PbCHS (chalcone synthase) reduced rutin content and impaired drought tolerance; both effects were restored by exogenous rutin application. Collectively, these results demonstrate that rutin plays a pivotal role in enhancing drought tolerance in pear. These findings advance an integrated understanding of plant metabolic adaptations to drought stress and offer potential targets for improving drought tolerance in pear.
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