Integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics data to further characterize Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth under high salinity stress

• Published in: The plant genome Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. e20182 - n/a
• Main Authors: Carvalho da Silva, Thalliton Luiz, Belo Silva, Vivianny Nayse, Braga, Ítalo de Oliveira, Rodrigues Neto, Jorge Candido, Leão, André Pereira, Ribeiro, José Antônio de Aquino, Valadares, Leonardo Fonseca, Abdelnur, Patrícia Verardi, Sousa, Carlos Antônio Ferreira, Souza, Manoel Teixeira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.03.2022; Wiley
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Biomass; Fabaceae - genetics; Flowers & plants; Genomes; Genotype & phenotype; Gliricidia sepium; Ionization; Leaves; Liquid chromatography; Mass spectroscopy; Metabolism; Metabolites; Metabolomics; Salinity; Salinity effects; Salinity tolerance; Salt; Salt Stress - genetics; Salt Tolerance - genetics; Soil salinity; Transcription; Transcriptome; Transcriptomes; Transcriptomics; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 1940-3372; 1940-3372
• DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20182

Soil salinity is one abiotic stress that threatens agriculture in more than 100 countries. Gliricidia [Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth] is a multipurpose tree known for its ability to adapt to a wide range of soils; however, its tolerance limits and responses to salt stress are not yet well understood. In this study, after characterizing the morphophysiological responses of young gliricidia plants to salinity stress, leaf metabolic and transcription profiles were generated and submitted to single and integrated analyses. RNA from leaf samples were subjected to RNA sequencing using an Illumina HiSeq platform and the paired‐end strategy. Polar and lipidic fractions from leaf samples were extracted and analyzed on an ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight high‐resolution mass spectrometry (MS) system. Acquired data were analyzed using the OmicsBox, XCMS Online, MetaboAnalyst, and Omics Fusion platforms. The substrate salinization protocol used allowed the identification of two distinct responses to salt stress: tolerance and adaptation. Single analysis on transcriptome and metabolome data sets led to a group of 5,672 transcripts and 107 metabolites differentially expressed in gliricidia leaves under salt stress. The phenylpropanoid biosynthesis was the most affected pathway, with 15 metabolites and three genes differentially expressed. Results showed that the differentially expressed metabolites and genes from this pathway affect mainly short‐term salt stress (STS). The single analysis of the transcriptome identified 12 genes coding for proteins that might play a role in gliricidia response at both STS and long‐term salt stress (LTS). Further studies are needed to reveal the mechanisms behind the adaptation response. Core Ideas This study shows the morphophysiological responses of gliricidia to high salinity stress. This study evaluates the tolerance and adaptation responses of gliricidia to high salinity stress. This study uses single and integrated analyses of gliricidia metabolome and transcriptome under high salinity stress. The role of the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway in gliricidia response to high salinity stress is explored.