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Predictive metabolomics of multiple Atacama plant species unveils a core set of generic metabolites for extreme climate resilience
Author(s) -
Dussarrat Thomas,
Prigent Sylvain,
Latorre Claudio,
Bernillon Stéphane,
Flandin Amélie,
Díaz Francisca P.,
Cassan Cédric,
Van Delft Pierre,
Jacob Daniel,
Varala Kranthi,
Joubes Jérôme,
Gibon Yves,
Rolin Dominique,
Gutiérrez Rodrigo A.,
Pétriacq Pierre
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.18095
Subject(s) - metabolome , metabolomics , edaphic , biology , vapour pressure deficit , adaptation (eye) , abiotic component , threatened species , ecosystem , abiotic stress , climate change , ecology , environmental science , transpiration , habitat , botany , bioinformatics , biochemistry , photosynthesis , neuroscience , gene , soil water
Summary Current crop yield of the best ideotypes is stagnating and threatened by climate change. In this scenario, understanding wild plant adaptations in extreme ecosystems offers an opportunity to learn about new mechanisms for resilience. Previous studies have shown species specificity for metabolites involved in plant adaptation to harsh environments. Here, we combined multispecies ecological metabolomics and machine learning‐based generalized linear model predictions to link the metabolome to the plant environment in a set of 24 species belonging to 14 families growing along an altitudinal gradient in the Atacama Desert. Thirty‐nine common compounds predicted the plant environment with 79% accuracy, thus establishing the plant metabolome as an excellent integrative predictor of environmental fluctuations. These metabolites were independent of the species and validated both statistically and biologically using an independent dataset from a different sampling year. Thereafter, using multiblock predictive regressions, metabolites were linked to climatic and edaphic stressors such as freezing temperature, water deficit and high solar irradiance. These findings indicate that plants from different evolutionary trajectories use a generic metabolic toolkit to face extreme environments. These core metabolites, also present in agronomic species, provide a unique metabolic goldmine for improving crop performances under abiotic pressure.