Ren Shaoqi, Bai Tianhang, Ma Yaqi, Zhao Yingjie, Ci Jiabin, Ren Xuejiao, Zang Zhenyuan, Ma Chengqian, Xiong Ruyi, Song Xinyao, Yang Wei, Yang Weiguang
College of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
Plants (Basel). 2025 Jul 2;14(13):2031. doi: 10.3390/plants14132031.
Maize ( L.) is one of the most important food crops. Salt stress can hinder crop growth and development, but the molecular mechanisms underlying maize's response to salt tolerance remain unclear. In this study, we conducted comparative transcriptome, metabolome, and physiological analyses of a salt-tolerant maize inbred line (J1285) subjected to different NaCl concentrations during the seedling stage. The results demonstrated that, with increasing salt concentration, seedling growth parameters and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT) exhibited initially increases before subsequently decreasing, peaking at 50-150 mmol/L. Transcriptome data analysis revealed that the experimental groups subjected to 50, 100, 150, and 200 mmol/L treatments had 375, 1043, 2504, and 2328 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) compared to the control group, respectively. Additionally, through GO and KEGG analysis, we found that the DEGs were primarily enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway and plant hormone signal transduction, especially the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway, both of which play instrumental roles in orchestrating the maize response to salt-induced stress. Transcription factors involved in the salt stress response, including WRKY, TIFY, bZIP, and bHLH, were identified. Metabolomic data analysis revealed that the experimental groups subjected to 50, 100, 150 and 200 mmol/L treatments had 44, 335, 278, and 550 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) compared to the control group, respectively. The DEMs were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Transcriptomics and metabolomics combined analysis were performed on J1285 seedling leaves, and it was found that the co-enrichment pathways included starch and sucrose metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, α-linolenic acid metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, etc. Collectively, these results will aid in identifying resistance genes and elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying salt tolerance for maize.
玉米（L.）是最重要的粮食作物之一。盐胁迫会阻碍作物生长发育，但玉米耐盐性响应的分子机制仍不清楚。在本研究中，我们对一个耐盐玉米自交系（J1285）在苗期进行不同NaCl浓度处理后进行了比较转录组、代谢组和生理分析。结果表明，随着盐浓度的增加，幼苗生长参数和抗氧化酶活性（超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶）最初升高，随后下降，在50 - 150 mmol/L时达到峰值。转录组数据分析显示，与对照组相比，分别接受50、100、150和200 mmol/L处理的实验组差异表达基因（DEG）数量分别为375、1043、2504和2328个。此外，通过基因本体（GO）和京都基因与基因组百科全书（KEGG）分析，我们发现差异表达基因主要富集在丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）信号通路和植物激素信号转导中，尤其是脱落酸（ABA）信号通路，这两个通路在协调玉米对盐胁迫的响应中都发挥着重要作用。鉴定出了参与盐胁迫响应的转录因子，包括WRKY、TIFY、bZIP和bHLH。代谢组数据分析显示，与对照组相比，分别接受50、100、150和200 mmol/L处理的实验组差异表达代谢物（DEM）数量分别为44、335、278和550个。差异表达代谢物主要富集在代谢途径和次生代谢物的生物合成中。对J1285幼苗叶片进行了转录组学和代谢组学联合分析，发现共富集途径包括淀粉和蔗糖代谢、亚油酸代谢、α-亚麻酸代谢、苯丙烷生物合成途径等。总体而言，这些结果将有助于鉴定抗性基因并阐明玉米耐盐性的分子机制。
