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A metabolomic study in oats ( A vena sativa ) highlights a drought tolerance mechanism based upon salicylate signalling pathways and the modulation of carbon, antioxidant and photo‐oxidative metabolism
Author(s) -
SÁNCHEZMARTÍN JAVIER,
HEALD JIM,
KINGSTONSMITH ALISON,
WINTERS ANA,
RUBIALES DIEGO,
SANZ MARILUZ,
MUR LUIS A. J.,
PRATS ELENA
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/pce.12501
Subject(s) - metabolomics , drought tolerance , salicylic acid , metabolite , photorespiration , antioxidant , biochemistry , chlorophyll , chemistry , biology , food science , botany , photosynthesis , chromatography
Although a wealth of information is available on the induction of one or several drought‐related responses in different species, little is known of how their timing, modulation and crucially integration influence drought tolerance. Based upon metabolomic changes in oat ( A vena sativa L .), we have defined key processes involved in drought tolerance. During a time course of increasing water deficit, metabolites from leaf samples were profiled using direct infusion–electrospray mass spectroscopy ( DI‐ESI ‐ MS ) and high‐performance liquid chromatography ( HPLC ) ESI‐MS / MS and analysed using principal component analysis ( PCA ) and discriminant function analysis ( DFA ). The involvement of metabolite pathways was confirmed through targeted assays of key metabolites and physiological experiments. We demonstrate an early accumulation of salicylic acid ( SA ) influencing stomatal opening, photorespiration and antioxidant defences before any change in the relative water content. These changes are likely to maintain plant water status, with any photoinhibitory effect being counteracted by an efficient antioxidant capacity, thereby representing an integrated mechanism of drought tolerance in oats. We also discuss these changes in relation to those engaged at later points, consequence of the different water status in susceptible and resistant genotypes.