Dataset Information

Integration of Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Reveals the Mechanistic Basis for Cadmium Accumulation in Maize.

ABSTRACT: Cadmium (Cd) pollution in soil has become a major environmental issue worldwide. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of low grain-Cd accumulation (GCA) in maize is still largely unknown. Herein, we report the mechanistic basis for low GCA in maize by a multiomics approach. The low GCA genotype L63 showed normal vacuolar formation and a lower capacity of xylem loading of Cd than the high-accumulator L42 under Cd stress. Transcriptomic sequencing identified 84 low-GCA-associated genes which are mainly involved in the S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) cycle, metal transport, and vacuolar sequestration. A metabolome analysis revealed that L63 plants had a more active SAM cycle and a greater capacity for terpenoid synthesis and phenylalanine metabolism than L42. Combining the analysis of transcriptome and metabolome characterized several genes as key genes involved in the determination of Cd accumulation. Our study identifies a mechanistic basis for low Cd accumulation in maize grains and provides candidate genes for genetic improvement of crops.

SUBMITTER: Lin K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9672352 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Integration of Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Reveals the Mechanistic Basis for Cadmium Accumulation in Maize.

Lin Kaina K Zeng Meng M Williams Darron V DV Hu Weimin W Shabala Sergey S Zhou Meixue M Cao Fangbin F

iScience 20221103 12

Cadmium (Cd) pollution in soil has become a major environmental issue worldwide. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of low grain-Cd accumulation (GCA) in maize is still largely unknown. Herein, we report the mechanistic basis for low GCA in maize by a multiomics approach. The low GCA genotype L63 showed normal vacuolar formation and a lower capacity of xylem loading of Cd than the high-accumulator L42 under Cd stress. Transcriptomic sequencing identified 84 low-GCA-associated genes whic ...[more]

PMID: 36404928

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Project description:Stalk lodging, or breakage of the stalk at or below the ear, is one of the vital factors causing substantial yield losses in maize (Zea mays. L). Lodging affects maize plants' physiological and molecular processes, eventually impacting plant growth and productivity. Despite this known fact, few researchers have investigated the genetic architecture underlying lodging in maize. Herein, through integrated transcriptome, metabolome, and phenotypic analyses of stalks of three diverse hybrid cultivars (highly resistant JNK738, mildly resistant JNK728, and lowly resistant XY335) at the tasseling (10 days to silking, 10 DTS) stage, we identified key genes and metabolic pathways modulating lodging resistance in maize. Based on the RNA-Seq analysis, a total of 10093 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from the comparison of the three varieties in pairs. Additionally, key lodging resistance-related metabolic pathways were obtained by KEGG enrichment analysis, and the DEGs were found predominantly enriched in phenylpropanoid and secondary metabolites biosynthesis pathways in the L_vs._H and M_vs._H comparison groups. Moreover, K-means analysis clustered the DEGs into clear and distinct expression profiles for each cultivar, with several functional and regulatory genes involved in the cell wall assembly, lignin biosynthetic process and hormone metabolic process being identified in the special clusters related to lodging resistance. Subsequently, integrating metabolome and transcriptome analyses revealed nine key lignin-associated metabolites that showed different expression trends in the three hybrid cultivars, among which L-phenylalanine and p-coumaric acid were regarded as differentially changed metabolites (DCMs). These two DCMs belonged to phenylalanine metabolism and biosynthesis pathways and were also supported by the RNA-Seq data. Furthermore, plant hormone signal transduction pathway-related genes encoding auxin, abscisic acid, jasmonates, and salicylic acid were differentially expressed in the three comparisons of lodging resistance, indicating these DEGs were valuable potential targets for improving maize lodging resistance. Finally, comparative physiological and qRT-PCR analyses results supported our transcriptome-based findings. Our research not only provides a preliminary theoretical basis and experimental ideas for an in-depth study of the regulatory networks involved in maize lodging resistance regulation but also opens up new avenues for molecular maize stalk lodging resistance breeding.

Project description:BackgroundHeterosis, or hybrid vigor, refers to the phenotypic superiority of an F1 hybrid relative to its parents in terms of growth rate, biomass production, grain yield, and stress tolerance. Light is an energy source and main environmental cue with marked impacts on heterosis in plants. Research into the production applications and mechanism of heterosis has been conducted for over a century and a half, but little is known about the effect of light on plant heterosis.ResultsIn this study, an integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis was performed using maize (Zea mays L.) inbred parents, B73 and Mo17, and their hybrids, B73 × Mo17 (BM) and Mo17 × B73 (MB), grown in darkness or under far-red, red, or blue light. Most differentially expressed genes (73.72-92.50%) and differentially accumulated metabolites (84.74-94.32%) exhibited non-additive effects in BM and MB hybrids. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that differential genes and metabolites were involved in glutathione transfer, carbohydrate transport, terpenoid biosynthesis, and photosynthesis. The darkness, far-red, red, and blue light treatments were all associated with phenylpropanoid-flavonoid biosynthesis by Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis. Five genes and seven metabolites related to phenylpropanoid-flavonoid biosynthesis pathway were identified as potential contributors to the interactions between maize heterosis and light conditions. Consistent with the strong mid-parent heterosis observed for metabolites, significant increases in both fresh and dry weights were found in the MB and BM hybrids compared with their inbred parents. Unexpectedly, increasing light intensity resulted in higher biomass heterosis in MB, but lower biomass heterosis in BM.ConclusionsThe transcriptomic and metabolomic results provide unique insights into the effects of light quality on gene expression patterns and genotype-environment interactions, and have implications for gene mining of heterotic loci to improve maize production.

Dataset Information

Integration of Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Reveals the Mechanistic Basis for Cadmium Accumulation in Maize.

Publications

Integration of Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Reveals the Mechanistic Basis for Cadmium Accumulation in Maize.

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