Decoding the effects of drought stress on popcorn (Zea mays var. everta) flowering combining proteomics and physiological analysis

ABSTRACT: Under soil water limitation and with adequate irrigation, we estimated growth measurements of the shoot and root system, as well as photosynthetic and proteomic profiles of two inbred lines of popcorn previously selected for tolerance to soil water limitation - L71, drought-tolerant; and L61, drought-sensitive - in an attempt to identify mechanisms related to tolerance to soil water limitation during the maturation phase. The plants were grown until grain filling in a substrate composed of perlite and peat in a 150 cm long PVC tube, under two water conditions (WC): i) irrigated (WW), at lysimeter capacity (LC - 100%); and ii) water-stressed (WS). The plants in the WS condition gradually reached 45% of the LC and were maintained like this for 10 days. Regardless of WC, L71 had the highest values of dry biomass of the shoot and root system, characterizing it as the most robust genotype. The imposed water limitation induced earlier senescence, degrading chlorophylls, and increasing anthocyanin values, with a more expressive impact in L61. The traits related to gas exchange expressed differences between lines only in the WS condition. In comparing WCs and most of the traits evaluated, the L71 genotype had the smallest proportional reductions. A total of 1,838 proteins were identified, with 169 differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) in the tolerant line and 386 DAPs in the sensitive line. The pathways of energy metabolism, photosynthesis, oxidative stress response, and protein synthesis represented the main differences between L71 and L61. Therefore, our results provide important insights into the changes in proteomic profiles that occur in adaptation to water limitation in popcorn, providing useful information for breeding towards the expression of genotypic superiority to water deficit.

INSTRUMENT(S): Synapt MS

ORGANISM(S): Zea Mays (maize)

TISSUE(S): Leaf

SUBMITTER: Vitor Pinto  

LAB HEAD: Vitor Batista Pinto

PROVIDER: PXD042348 | Pride | 2025-01-31

REPOSITORIES: Pride