Integrated Physiological, Transcriptomic, and Metabolomic Analyses Reveal the Adaptive Response of Buchloe dactyloides to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Stress
The potential role of multiple pathways in the defense response of B. dactyloides roots against PAHs stress, including amino acid synthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, galactose metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and other pathways, may contribute to antioxidative defense under PAHs stress.
Abstract
Understanding how plants respond to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) stress is essential for evaluating ecological risks and improving phytoremediation strategies. PAHs are widespread and persistent environmental pollutants that exert toxic effects on plants at different developmental stages. Although Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt) Engelm shows potential for phytoremediation of PAHs contamination, its root defense mechanism against PAHs remains unclear. To this end, transcriptomics and non-targeted metabolomics were used to study the changes in gene expression and metabolite profiles in roots under PAHs stress. After 70 days of PAHs exposure, B. dactyloides roots exhibited increased activities of catalase (CAT) (from 1.955 to 6.436; ca. 3.29) and peroxidase (POD) (from 94.507 to 124.901; ca. 1.32), higher levels of ascorbate (AsA) (from 7976.69 to 18,950.09; ca. 2.38) and glutathione (GSH) (from 21.08 to 37.23; ca. 1.77), and accumulation of proline (from 40.585 to 66.671; ca. 1.64). Significant differences in genes and metabolites were observed between the treatment and control groups, with a total of 4083 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 100 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). Further comprehensive analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics revealed the potential role of multiple pathways in the defense response of B. dactyloides roots against PAHs stress, including amino acid synthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, galactose metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and other pathways. These pathways may contribute to antioxidative defense under PAHs stress. In addition, increased trehalose and soluble sugar contents likely supplied energy and osmoprotective functions under stress. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms of root adaptation to PAHs and may support the long-term phytoremediation potential of B. dactyloides.
Flavonoids are key compounds that protect plants from environmental stress and benefit human health. Understanding their metabolism can lead to advances in agriculture and human health. By integrating transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, quantitative analysis and insect behavioral bioassays, this study characterized tea (Camellia sinensis L.) flavonoid profiles and decoded their dynamic reprogramming in response to herbivory and methyl jasmonate (MeJA), which induced 41 and 31 differential metabolites, respectively, dominated by methylated and oxidized flavonoids and proanthocyanidins. Critically, the two treatments activated 22 and 20 flavonoid synthase genes, respectively, sharing 15 common genes. Moreover, this study characterized theaflavins as potent, JA-inducible defenses with structure-dependent efficacy at a low dose (1.25 μg/g), and identified key peroxidases and laccases involved in their biosynthesis. These metabolic markers bridge the gap between insect resistance and quality traits in breeding programs, paving the way for developing plant-derived, eco-friendly biopesticides.
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Wei-San Meng, L. Qiu, Yueli Du et al.· Plants· 0 citations
The greater metabolic stability and adaptive capacity of A. laxa is demonstrated under the tested conditions, supporting its identification as the more robust bioremediation candidate.
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With the ubiquity of lithium‐ion batteries, lithium has emerged as a critical environmental contaminant, yet the mechanisms of its toxicity and tolerance in plants remain poorly understood. This study investigates the physiological and molecular responses of the C4 model crop foxtail millet (
Setaria italica
) to LiCl stress. Physiological analyses revealed a concentration‐dependent effect: while low Li
+
levels activated the antioxidant system, exposure to 50 mg/L LiCl triggered a severe oxidative burst, leading to the suppression of antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT), lipid peroxidation, and significant growth inhibition. Transcriptomic profiling of the cultivar “Jingu 21” identified 1562 commonly regulated differentially expressed genes, indicating that Li
+
stress disrupts Na
+
/K
+
homeostasis and reprograms metabolic pathways, including the upregulation of branched‐chain amino acid degradation and plant‐pathogen interaction pathways. To validate these findings, we analyzed five additional cultivars exhibiting differential tolerance. Comparative analysis demonstrated that the robust tolerance observed in “Jigu 22” correlated with the strong induction of key genes‐specifically the transcription factor
SiBHLH148
, the vacuolar transporter
SiNHX1
, and the lipid transfer protein
SiDIR1
‐
suggesting
their pivotal roles in maintaining ROS homeostasis and ion compartmentalization. These results elucidate the molecular basis of LiCl adaptation in foxtail millet and provide crucial genetic targets for breeding crops resilient to lithium pollution.
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Jia-Ni Li, Wei Chen, Jian Mao et al.· Animals· 0 citations
Heterogeneous Cd and/or Phe stress significantly reduced biomass while elevating antioxidant enzyme activities and MDA content in ramets, reflecting bidirectional physiological integration under heterogeneous stress.
Yue Li, Hai-Di Su, Han Zhang et al.· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
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