scholarly journals Global Transcriptome and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analyses of Growth-Stage-Specific Drought Stress Responses in Maize

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Songtao Liu ◽  
Tinashe Zenda ◽  
Anyi Dong ◽  
Yatong Yang ◽  
Nan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Transcriptome Analysis ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Growth Stage ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Network Analyses

Drought is the major abiotic stress threatening maize (Zea mays L.) production globally. Despite recent scientific headway in deciphering maize drought stress responses, the overall picture of key genes, pathways, and co-expression networks regulating maize drought tolerance is still fragmented. Therefore, deciphering the molecular basis of maize drought tolerance remains pertinent. Here, through a comprehensive comparative leaf transcriptome analysis of drought-tolerant hybrid ND476 plants subjected to water-sufficient and water-deficit treatment conditions at flared (V12), tasseling (VT), the prophase of grain filling (R2), and the anaphase of grain filling (R4) crop growth stages, we report growth-stage-specific molecular mechanisms regulating maize drought stress responses. Based on the transcriptome analysis, a total of 3,451 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from the four experimental comparisons, with 2,403, 650, 397, and 313 DEGs observed at the V12, VT, R1, and R4 stages, respectively. Subsequently, 3,451 DEGs were divided into 12 modules by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), comprising 277 hub genes. Interestingly, the co-expressed genes that clustered into similar modules exhibited diverse expression tendencies and got annotated to different GO terms at different stages. MapMan analysis revealed that DEGs related to stress signal transduction, detoxification, transcription factor regulation, hormone signaling, and secondary metabolites biosynthesis were universal across the four growth stages. However, DEGs associated with photosynthesis and amino acid metabolism; protein degradation; transport; and RNA transcriptional regulation were uniquely enriched at the V12, VT, R2, and R4 stages, respectively. Our results affirmed that maize drought stress adaptation is a growth-stage-specific response process, and aid in clarifying the fundamental growth-stage-specific mechanisms regulating drought stress responses in maize. Moreover, genes and metabolic pathways identified here can serve as valuable genetic resources or selection targets for further functional validation experiments.

Global transcriptome and weighted gene co-expression network analyses of growth-stage-specific and hybrid-cultivar-specific drought stress responses in maize

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Songtao Liu ◽  
Tinashe Zenda ◽  
Hongyu Jin ◽  
Guo Liu ◽  
Xuan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Transcriptome Analysis ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Growth Stage ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Network Analyses

Abstract Background Drought is the major abiotic stress threatening maize ( Zea mays L.) production globally. Therefore, deciphering the molecular basis of maize drought tolerance remains pertinent. Results Here, through a comprehensive comparative leaf transcriptome analysis of drought-tolerant hybrid ND476 plants subjected to water-sufficient (control) and water-deficit (drought) treatment conditions at four (V12, VT, R1, and R4) crop growth stages, we report key cultivar-specific and growth-stage-specific molecular mechanisms regulating drought stress responses in maize. Based on the transcriptome analysis, a total of 3451 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from the four experimental comparisons, with 2403, 650, 397 and 313 DEGS observed at the V12, VT, R1, and R4 stages, respectively. The expression changes in these genes effected corresponding metabolic pathway responses related to drought tolerance in maize. Subsequently, 3451 DEGs were divided into 12 modules by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), comprising 277 hub genes covering drought-responsive genes involved in water-deficit stress and developmental signaling crosstalk. Interestingly, the co-expressed genes that clustered into similar modules exhibited diverse expression tendencies and got annotated to different GO terms at different stages. MapMan analysis revealed that DEGs related to stress signal transduction, detoxification, transcription factor regulation, hormone signaling and secondary metabolites biosynthesis were universal across the four growth stages. However, the DEGs associated with photosynthesis and amino acid metabolism; protein degradation; transport; and RNA transcriptional regulation were uniquely enriched at the V12, VT, R2, and R4 stages, respectively. Conclusions Our results affirmed that maize drought stress adaptation is a whole-plant response as well as a stage-specific response process. We hope that our findings will aid in clarifying the fundamental cultivar-specific and growth-stage-specific molecular mechanisms regulating drought stress responses in maize. In addition, the genes and metabolic pathways identified here can be valuable genetic resources or selection targets for developing new drought resistant maize cultivars.

scholarly journals Transcriptomic studies reveal a key metabolic pathway contributing to a well-maintained photosynthetic system under drought stress in foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiping Shi ◽  
Jingye Cheng ◽  
Xiaojie Wen ◽  
Jixiang Wang ◽  
Guanyan Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Drought Stress ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Chlorophyll Biosynthesis ◽  
Foxtail Millet ◽  
Setaria Italica ◽  
Parental Lines

Drought stress is one of the most important abiotic factors limiting crop productivity. A better understanding of the effects of drought on millet (Setaria italica L.) production, a model crop for studying drought tolerance, and the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for drought stress responses is vital to improvement of agricultural production. In this study, we exposed the drought resistant F1 hybrid, M79, and its parental lines E1 and H1 to drought stress. Subsequent physiological analysis demonstrated that M79 showed higher photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency and drought tolerance than its parents. A transcriptomic study using leaves collected six days after drought treatment, when the soil water content was about ~20%, identified 3066, 1895, and 2148 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in M79, E1 and H1 compared to the respective untreated controls, respectively. Further analysis revealed 17 Gene Ontology (GO) enrichments and 14 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways in M79, including photosystem II (PSII) oxygen-evolving complex, peroxidase (POD) activity, plant hormone signal transduction, and chlorophyll biosynthesis. Co-regulation analysis suggested that these DEGs in M79 contributed to the formation of a regulatory network involving multiple biological processes and pathways including photosynthesis, signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, redox regulation, hormonal signaling, and osmotic regulation. RNA-seq analysis also showed that some photosynthesis-related DEGs were highly expressed in M79 compared to its parental lines under drought stress. These results indicate that various molecular pathways, including photosynthesis, respond to drought stress in M79, and provide abundant molecular information for further analysis of the underlying mechanism responding to this stress.

scholarly journals Transcriptomic studies reveal a key metabolic pathway contributing to a well-maintained photosynthetic system under drought stress in foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.)

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiping Shi ◽  
Jingye Cheng ◽  
Xiaojie Wen ◽  
Jixiang Wang ◽  
Guanyan Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Drought Stress ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Chlorophyll Biosynthesis ◽  
Foxtail Millet ◽  
Setaria Italica ◽  
Parental Lines

Drought stress is one of the most important abiotic factors limiting crop productivity. A better understanding of the effects of drought on millet (Setaria italica L.) production, a model crop for studying drought tolerance, and the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for drought stress responses is vital to improvement of agricultural production. In this study, we exposed the drought resistant F1 hybrid, M79, and its parental lines E1 and H1 to drought stress. Subsequent physiological analysis demonstrated that M79 showed higher photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency and drought tolerance than its parents. A transcriptomic study using leaves collected six days after drought treatment, when the soil water content was about ∼20%, identified 3066, 1895, and 2148 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in M79, E1 and H1 compared to the respective untreated controls, respectively. Further analysis revealed 17 Gene Ontology (GO) enrichments and 14 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways in M79, including photosystem II (PSII) oxygen-evolving complex, peroxidase (POD) activity, plant hormone signal transduction, and chlorophyll biosynthesis. Co-regulation analysis suggested that these DEGs in M79 contributed to the formation of a regulatory network involving multiple biological processes and pathways including photosynthesis, signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, redox regulation, hormonal signaling, and osmotic regulation. RNA-seq analysis also showed that some photosynthesis-related DEGs were highly expressed in M79 compared to its parental lines under drought stress. These results indicate that various molecular pathways, including photosynthesis, respond to drought stress in M79, and provide abundant molecular information for further analysis of the underlying mechanism responding to this stress.

scholarly journals Comparative Proteomic and Morpho-Physiological Analyses of Maize Wild-Type Vp16 and Mutant vp16 Germinating Seed Responses to PEG-Induced Drought Stress

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (22) ◽  
pp. 5586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Songtao Liu ◽  
Tinashe Zenda ◽  
Anyi Dong ◽  
Yatong Yang ◽  
Xinyue Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Pentose Phosphate ◽  
Glutathione Metabolism ◽  
Abiotic Factor ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Proteomics Analysis

Drought stress is a major abiotic factor compromising plant cell physiological and molecular events, consequently limiting crop growth and productivity. Maize (Zea mays L.) is among the most drought-susceptible food crops. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying drought-stress responses remains critical for crop improvement. To decipher the molecular mechanisms underpinning maize drought tolerance, here, we used a comparative morpho-physiological and proteomics analysis approach to monitor the changes in germinating seeds of two incongruent (drought-sensitive wild-type Vp16 and drought-tolerant mutant vp16) lines exposed to polyethylene-glycol-induced drought stress for seven days. Our physiological analysis showed that the tolerant line mutant vp16 exhibited better osmotic stress endurance owing to its improved reactive oxygen species scavenging competency and robust osmotic adjustment as a result of greater cell water retention and enhanced cell membrane stability. Proteomics analysis identified a total of 1200 proteins to be differentially accumulated under drought stress. These identified proteins were mainly involved in carbohydrate and energy metabolism, histone H2A-mediated epigenetic regulation, protein synthesis, signal transduction, redox homeostasis and stress-response processes; with carbon metabolism, pentose phosphate and glutathione metabolism pathways being prominent under stress conditions. Interestingly, significant congruence (R2 = 81.5%) between protein and transcript levels was observed by qRT-PCR validation experiments. Finally, we propose a hypothetical model for maize germinating-seed drought tolerance based on our key findings identified herein. Overall, our study offers insights into the overall mechanisms underpinning drought-stress tolerance and provides essential leads into further functional validation of the identified drought-responsive proteins in maize.

scholarly journals Transcriptome and Co-expression Network Analyses Reveal Differential Gene Expression and Pathways in Response to Severe Drought Stress in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nannan Zhao ◽  
Shunli Cui ◽  
Xiukun Li ◽  
Bokuan Liu ◽  
Hongtao Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Transcriptome Analysis ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Physiological Data ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Network Analyses ◽  
Formation Stage

Drought is one of the major abiotic stress factors limiting peanut production. It causes the loss of pod yield during the pod formation stage. Here, one previously identified drought-tolerant cultivar, “L422” of peanut, was stressed by drought (35 ± 5%) at pod formation stage for 5, 7, and 9 days. To analyze the drought effects on peanut, we conducted physiological and transcriptome analysis in leaves under well-watered (CK1, CK2, and CK3) and drought-stress conditions (T1, T2, and T3). By transcriptome analysis, 3,586, 6,730, and 8,054 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in “L422” at 5 days (CK1 vs T1), 7 days (CK2 vs T2), and 9 days (CK3 vs T3) of drought stress, respectively, and 2,846 genes were common DEGs among the three-time points. Furthermore, the result of weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed one significant module that was closely correlated between drought stress and physiological data. A total of 1,313 significantly up-/down-regulated genes, including 61 transcription factors, were identified in the module at three-time points throughout the drought stress stage. Additionally, six vital metabolic pathways, namely, “MAPK signaling pathway-plant,” “flavonoid biosynthesis,” “starch and sucrose metabolism,” “phenylpropanoid biosynthesis,” “glutathione metabolism,” and “plant hormone signal transduction” were enriched in “L422” under severe drought stress. Nine genes responding to drought tolerance were selected for quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) verification and the results agreed with transcriptional profile data, which reveals the reliability and accuracy of transcriptome data. Taken together, these findings could lead to a better understanding of drought tolerance and facilitate the breeding of drought-resistant peanut cultivars.

scholarly journals Transcriptomic studies reveal a key metabolic pathway contributing to a well-maintained photosynthetic system under drought stress in foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiping Shi ◽  
Jingye Cheng ◽  
Xiaojie Wen ◽  
Jixiang Wang ◽  
Guanyan Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Drought Stress ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Chlorophyll Biosynthesis ◽  
Foxtail Millet ◽  
Setaria Italica ◽  
Parental Lines

Drought stress is one of the most important abiotic factors limiting crop productivity. A better understanding of the effects of drought on millet (Setaria italica L.) production, a model crop for studying drought tolerance, and the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for drought stress responses is vital to improvement of agricultural production. In this study, we exposed the drought resistant F1 hybrid, M79, and its parental lines E1 and H1 to drought stress. Subsequent physiological analysis demonstrated that M79 showed higher photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency and drought tolerance than its parents. A transcriptomic study using leaves collected six days after drought treatment, when the soil water content was about ~20%, identified 3066, 1895, and 2148 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in M79, E1 and H1 compared to the respective untreated controls, respectively. Further analysis revealed 17 Gene Ontology (GO) enrichments and 14 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways in M79, including photosystem II (PSII) oxygen-evolving complex, peroxidase (POD) activity, plant hormone signal transduction, and chlorophyll biosynthesis. Co-regulation analysis suggested that these DEGs in M79 contributed to the formation of a regulatory network involving multiple biological processes and pathways including photosynthesis, signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, redox regulation, hormonal signaling, and osmotic regulation. RNA-seq analysis also showed that some photosynthesis-related DEGs were highly expressed in M79 compared to its parental lines under drought stress. These results indicate that various molecular pathways, including photosynthesis, respond to drought stress in M79, and provide abundant molecular information for further analysis of the underlying mechanism responding to this stress.

scholarly journals Transcriptome analysis of Auricularia fibrillifera fruit-body responses to drought stress and rehydration

BMC Genomics ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiqin Wang ◽  
Zhifen Yang ◽  
Luxi Shi ◽  
Rui Yang ◽  
Hao Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Transcriptome Analysis ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Fruit Body ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Edible Fungus ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Caffeine Metabolism

Abstract Background Drought stress severely restricts edible fungus production. The genus Auricularia has a rare drought tolerance, a rehydration capability, and is nutrient rich. Results The key genes and metabolic pathways involved in drought-stress and rehydration were investigated using a transcriptome analysis to clarify the relevant molecular mechanisms. In total, 173.93 Mb clean reads, 26.09 Gb of data bulk, and 52,954 unigenes were obtained. Under drought-stress and rehydration conditions, 14,235 and 8539 differentially expressed genes, respectively, were detected. ‘Tyrosine metabolic’, ‘caffeine metabolism’, ‘ribosome’, ‘phagosome’, and ‘proline and arginine metabolism’, as well as ‘peroxisome’ and ‘mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling’ pathways, had major roles in A. fibrillifera responses to drought stress. ‘Tyrosine’ and ‘caffeine metabolism’ might reveal unknown mechanisms for the antioxidation of A. fibrillifera under drought-stress conditions. During the rehydration process, ‘diterpenoid biosynthesis’, ‘butanoate metabolism’, ‘C5-branched dibasic acid’, and ‘aflatoxin biosynthesis’ pathways were significantly enriched. Gibberellins and γ-aminobutyric acid were important in the recovery of A. fibrillifera growth after rehydration. Many genes related to antibiotics, vitamins, and other health-related ingredients were found in A. fibrillifera. Conclusion These findings suggested that the candidate genes and metabolites involved in crucial biological pathways might regulate the drought tolerance or rehydration of Auricularia, shedding light on the corresponding mechanisms and providing new potential targets for the breeding and cultivation of drought-tolerant fungi.

scholarly journals Spermine: Its Emerging Role in Regulating Drought Stress Responses in Plants

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 261
Author(s):  
Md. Mahadi Hasan ◽  
Milan Skalicky ◽  
Mohammad Shah Jahan ◽  
Md. Nazmul Hossain ◽  
Zunaira Anwar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Abiotic Stresses ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Antioxidant Defense ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
New Information ◽  
Effects Of Drought

In recent years, research on spermine (Spm) has turned up a lot of new information about this essential polyamine, especially as it is able to counteract damage from abiotic stresses. Spm has been shown to protect plants from a variety of environmental insults, but whether it can prevent the adverse effects of drought has not yet been reported. Drought stress increases endogenous Spm in plants and exogenous application of Spm improves the plants’ ability to tolerate drought stress. Spm’s role in enhancing antioxidant defense mechanisms, glyoxalase systems, methylglyoxal (MG) detoxification, and creating tolerance for drought-induced oxidative stress is well documented in plants. However, the influences of enzyme activity and osmoregulation on Spm biosynthesis and metabolism are variable. Spm interacts with other molecules like nitric oxide (NO) and phytohormones such as abscisic acid, salicylic acid, brassinosteroids, and ethylene, to coordinate the reactions necessary for developing drought tolerance. This review focuses on the role of Spm in plants under severe drought stress. We have proposed models to explain how Spm interacts with existing defense mechanisms in plants to improve drought tolerance.

scholarly journals A Novel WRKY Transcription Factor from Ipomoea trifida, ItfWRKY70, Confers Drought Tolerance in Sweet Potato

2022 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 686
Author(s):  
Sifan Sun ◽  
Xu Li ◽  
Shaopei Gao ◽  
Nan Nie ◽  
Huan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Transgenic Plants ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Sweet Potato ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Leaf Tissue ◽  
Stomatal Aperture ◽  
Ros Scavenging ◽  
Ipomoea Trifida ◽  
Positive Role

WRKY transcription factors are one of the important families in plants, and have important roles in plant growth, abiotic stress responses, and defense regulation. In this study, we isolated a WRKY gene, ItfWRKY70, from the wild relative of sweet potato Ipomoea trifida (H.B.K.) G. Don. This gene was highly expressed in leaf tissue and strongly induced by 20% PEG6000 and 100 μM abscisic acid (ABA). Subcellar localization analyses indicated that ItfWRKY70 was localized in the nucleus. Overexpression of ItfWRKY70 significantly increased drought tolerance in transgenic sweet potato plants. The content of ABA and proline, and the activity of SOD and POD were significantly increased, whereas the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 were decreased in transgenic plants under drought stress. Overexpression of ItfWRKY70 up-regulated the genes involved in ABA biosynthesis, stress-response, ROS-scavenging system, and stomatal aperture in transgenic plants under drought stress. Taken together, these results demonstrated that ItfWRKY70 plays a positive role in drought tolerance by accumulating the content of ABA, regulating stomatal aperture and activating the ROS scavenging system in sweet potato.

scholarly journals Comparative Proteomics and Physiological Analyses Reveal Important Maize Filling-Kernel Drought-Responsive Genes and Metabolic Pathways

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (15) ◽  
pp. 3743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuan Wang ◽  
Tinashe Zenda ◽  
Songtao Liu ◽  
Guo Liu ◽  
Hongyu Jin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Storage Proteins ◽  
Seed Storage Proteins ◽  
Comparative Proteomics ◽  
Venn Diagram ◽  
Drought Tolerant

Despite recent scientific headway in deciphering maize (Zea mays L.) drought stress responses, the overall picture of key proteins and genes, pathways, and protein–protein interactions regulating maize filling-kernel drought tolerance is still fragmented. Yet, maize filling-kernel drought stress remains devastating and its study is critical for tolerance breeding. Here, through a comprehensive comparative proteomics analysis of filling-kernel proteomes of two contrasting (drought-tolerant YE8112 and drought-sensitive MO17) inbred lines, we report diverse but key molecular actors mediating drought tolerance in maize. Using isobaric tags for relative quantification approach, a total of 5175 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were identified from four experimental comparisons. By way of Venn diagram analysis, four critical sets of drought-responsive proteins were mined out and further analyzed by bioinformatics techniques. The YE8112-exclusive DAPs chiefly participated in pathways related to “protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum” and “tryptophan metabolism”, whereas MO17-exclusive DAPs were involved in “starch and sucrose metabolism” and “oxidative phosphorylation” pathways. Most notably, we report that YE8112 kernels were comparatively drought tolerant to MO17 kernels attributable to their redox post translational modifications and epigenetic regulation mechanisms, elevated expression of heat shock proteins, enriched energy metabolism and secondary metabolites biosynthesis, and up-regulated expression of seed storage proteins. Further, comparative physiological analysis and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction results substantiated the proteomics findings. Our study presents an elaborate understanding of drought-responsive proteins and metabolic pathways mediating maize filling-kernel drought tolerance, and provides important candidate genes for subsequent functional validation.

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