Changes in Metabolites Produced in Wheat Plants Against Water-Deficit Stress

Drought stress can adversely affect the seed germination and seedling growth of wheat plants. This study analyzed the effect of drought on seed germination and the morphological parameters of seedlings from ten winter wheat genotypes. The primary focus was to elucidate the effects of two drought int...

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Main Authors: Valentina Spanic, Jurica Duvnjak, Dubravka Hefer, John C. D’Auria
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/1/10
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author Valentina Spanic
Jurica Duvnjak
Dubravka Hefer
John C. D’Auria
author_facet Valentina Spanic
Jurica Duvnjak
Dubravka Hefer
John C. D’Auria
author_sort Valentina Spanic
collection DOAJ
description Drought stress can adversely affect the seed germination and seedling growth of wheat plants. This study analyzed the effect of drought on seed germination and the morphological parameters of seedlings from ten winter wheat genotypes. The primary focus was to elucidate the effects of two drought intensities on metabolic status in wheat seedlings. The findings suggest that most wheat genotypes exhibited a significant reduction in germination and growth traits under severe drought, while the genotype Srpanjka exhibited less reduction under both drought conditions. Out of 668 metabolic features, 54 were altered under 10% PEG stress and 140 under 20% PEG stress, with 48 commonly shared between these two stress intensities. This study demonstrated that the metabolic response of shoots to 10% PEG stress contrasts with that of 20% PEG stress. Some growth metabolites, such as oxalic acid, sophorose, and turanose, showed the highest positive increase under both stresses, while butanoic acid, tropic acid, glycine, propionic acid, and phosphonoacetic acid decreased. It is suggested that the accumulation of amino acids, such as proline, contributed to the drought tolerance of the plants. Among all organic acids, succinic and aspartic acids particularly increased the plant response to mild and severe drought stress, respectively. Our results suggest that different metabolites in wheat seedlings enhance the potential ability of wheat to cope with drought stress in the early growth stages by activating a rapid and comprehensive tolerance mechanism. This discovery presents a new approach for enhancing wheat tolerance to abiotic stress, including water deficit.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2223-7747
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spelling doaj-art-ed7de79533db4131914413450f8fc6562025-01-10T13:19:28ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472024-12-011411010.3390/plants14010010Changes in Metabolites Produced in Wheat Plants Against Water-Deficit StressValentina Spanic0Jurica Duvnjak1Dubravka Hefer2John C. D’Auria3Agricultural Institute Osijek, Južno Predgrađe 17, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaAgricultural Institute Osijek, Južno Predgrađe 17, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaAgricultural Institute Osijek, Južno Predgrađe 17, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaLeibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK Gatersleben), OT Gatersleben, Corrensstraße 3, 06466 Seeland, GermanyDrought stress can adversely affect the seed germination and seedling growth of wheat plants. This study analyzed the effect of drought on seed germination and the morphological parameters of seedlings from ten winter wheat genotypes. The primary focus was to elucidate the effects of two drought intensities on metabolic status in wheat seedlings. The findings suggest that most wheat genotypes exhibited a significant reduction in germination and growth traits under severe drought, while the genotype Srpanjka exhibited less reduction under both drought conditions. Out of 668 metabolic features, 54 were altered under 10% PEG stress and 140 under 20% PEG stress, with 48 commonly shared between these two stress intensities. This study demonstrated that the metabolic response of shoots to 10% PEG stress contrasts with that of 20% PEG stress. Some growth metabolites, such as oxalic acid, sophorose, and turanose, showed the highest positive increase under both stresses, while butanoic acid, tropic acid, glycine, propionic acid, and phosphonoacetic acid decreased. It is suggested that the accumulation of amino acids, such as proline, contributed to the drought tolerance of the plants. Among all organic acids, succinic and aspartic acids particularly increased the plant response to mild and severe drought stress, respectively. Our results suggest that different metabolites in wheat seedlings enhance the potential ability of wheat to cope with drought stress in the early growth stages by activating a rapid and comprehensive tolerance mechanism. This discovery presents a new approach for enhancing wheat tolerance to abiotic stress, including water deficit.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/1/10metabolic profilingGC-MSwinter wheatabiotic stressdrought stress
spellingShingle Valentina Spanic
Jurica Duvnjak
Dubravka Hefer
John C. D’Auria
Changes in Metabolites Produced in Wheat Plants Against Water-Deficit Stress
Plants
metabolic profiling
GC-MS
winter wheat
abiotic stress
drought stress
title Changes in Metabolites Produced in Wheat Plants Against Water-Deficit Stress
title_full Changes in Metabolites Produced in Wheat Plants Against Water-Deficit Stress
title_fullStr Changes in Metabolites Produced in Wheat Plants Against Water-Deficit Stress
title_full_unstemmed Changes in Metabolites Produced in Wheat Plants Against Water-Deficit Stress
title_short Changes in Metabolites Produced in Wheat Plants Against Water-Deficit Stress
title_sort changes in metabolites produced in wheat plants against water deficit stress
topic metabolic profiling
GC-MS
winter wheat
abiotic stress
drought stress
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/1/10
work_keys_str_mv AT valentinaspanic changesinmetabolitesproducedinwheatplantsagainstwaterdeficitstress
AT juricaduvnjak changesinmetabolitesproducedinwheatplantsagainstwaterdeficitstress
AT dubravkahefer changesinmetabolitesproducedinwheatplantsagainstwaterdeficitstress
AT johncdauria changesinmetabolitesproducedinwheatplantsagainstwaterdeficitstress