Han Mengxia, Tan Qing, Yang Yulu, Zhang Hui, Wang Xingchun, Li Xukai
Hou-Ji Laboratory in Shanxi Province, College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China.
Plants (Basel). 2025 May 24;14(11):1602. doi: 10.3390/plants14111602.
Foxtail millet (), a cereal crop in China, is renowned for its resilience to abiotic stresses, including saline-alkali conditions. This study examined the transcriptomic and metabolomic responses of two contrasting foxtail millet varieties, B103 (tolerant) and B323 (sensitive), under saline-alkali stress. Physiological analysis showed that B103 exhibited higher growth parameters and chlorophyll content than B323, highlighting its enhanced tolerance. Transcriptomic analysis identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) enriched in stress-response pathways such as phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid metabolism and calcium signaling. Metabolomic profiling revealed differentially accumulated metabolites (DMs) involved in energy and secondary metabolism, including citrate, fumarate and flavonoids. Integration of DEGs and DMs revealed key gene-metabolite interactions, particularly those involving the nicotinamide compound and three candidate genes , and , for future functional validation, which may contribute to stress adaptation. Dynamic clustering of gene expression trends highlighted the importance of rapid stress responses. These findings establish a molecular framework for understanding saline-alkali stress tolerance and provide genetic resources for developing stress-resilient foxtail millet varieties.
谷子（）是中国的一种谷类作物，以其对包括盐碱条件在内的非生物胁迫的耐受性而闻名。本研究考察了两个对比鲜明的谷子品种B103（耐盐碱）和B323（敏感）在盐碱胁迫下的转录组和代谢组反应。生理分析表明，B103的生长参数和叶绿素含量均高于B323，突出了其更强的耐受性。转录组分析确定了在苯丙烷生物合成、类黄酮代谢和钙信号等应激反应途径中富集的差异表达基因（DEG）。代谢组分析揭示了参与能量和次生代谢的差异积累代谢物（DM），包括柠檬酸、富马酸和类黄酮。DEG和DM的整合揭示了关键的基因-代谢物相互作用，特别是那些涉及烟酰胺化合物的相互作用以及三个候选基因、和，以供未来进行功能验证，这可能有助于胁迫适应。基因表达趋势的动态聚类突出了快速应激反应的重要性。这些发现建立了一个理解盐碱胁迫耐受性的分子框架，并为培育抗逆性谷子品种提供了遗传资源。
