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Metabolic changes associated with differential salt tolerance in sorghum genotypes

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Abstract

Main conclusion

Accumulation of specific metabolites, mainly γ-aminobutyric acid, polyamines, and proline, was essential to homeostasis regulation and differential salt tolerance in sorghum genotypes.

Abstract

Salinity is severe abiotic stress that limits plant growth and development in arid and semi-arid regions. Survival to abiotic stresses depends on metabolic and sometimes even morphological adjustments. We measured the growth parameters, water relations, the content of ions (Na+, K+, Cl–), compatible solutes [some free amino acids (FAAs) including γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and proline and soluble carbohydrates) and polyamines (PAs), the activity of PAs metabolism enzymes, and metabolomic profile in plants after 14 days of salt stress treatment. These analyses were to evaluate the influence of metabolomic responses of sorghum genotypes exhibiting sensitivity (CSF18) or tolerance (CSF20) to salinity on plant growth. The salinity promoted growth reductions and induced increases in Na+ and Cl– content and decreases in K+ content. The water status and osmotic potential (Ψo) were reduced by salt stress, but to minimize damage, especially in the CSF20, the osmolytes and PAs contributed to the osmotic adjustment. The results showed that salinity induced an increase in putrescine (Put) in the sensitive genotype. However, it raised spermidine (Spd), spermine (Spm), and cadaverine (Cad) in the tolerant genotype. In addition, the regulation of polyamine oxidase can be related to Spm and GABA biosynthesis. Differential metabolic changes to salt tolerance include metabolites associated with tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates and the metabolisms of sugars, FAAs, and PAs.

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Abbreviations

ADC:

Arginine decarboxylase

Cad:

Cadaverine

DAO:

Diamine oxidase

PAO:

Polyamine oxidase

DM:

Dry mass

FAAs:

Free amino acids

GABA:

γ-Aminobutyric acid

PAs:

Polyamines

Put:

Putrescine

Spd:

Spermidine

Spm:

Spermine

Ψo :

Osmotic potential

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (FUNCAP), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Salinidade (INCTsal) by financial support. DFO thanks Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowship during his Doctoral studies.

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  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Science and Technology in Salinity (INCTSal/CNPq), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil

    Daniel Farias de Oliveira, Lineker de Sousa Lopes & Enéas Gomes-Filho

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  1. Daniel Farias de Oliveira
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de Oliveira, D.F., Lopes, L.d. & Gomes-Filho, E. Metabolic changes associated with differential salt tolerance in sorghum genotypes. Planta 252, 34 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-020-03437-8

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