Comprehensive physio-biochemical and transcriptomic characterization to decipher the network of key genes under waterlogging stress and its recuperation inPrunus persica

Abstract

Waterlogging is a major abiotic stress that plants encounter as a result of climate change impacts. Peach is very sensitive to hypoxia during waterlogging, which causes poor tree vigor and huge economic loss. The molecular mechanism underlying the peach response to waterlogging and reoxygenation remains unclear. Here, the physiological and molecular responses of three-week-old peach seedlings under waterlogged and recovery conditions were comprehensively analyzed. In results, waterlogging significantly reduced plant height and biomass with inhibition of root growth when compared with control and reoxygenation. Similar results were observed for photosynthetic activities and gaseous exchange parameters. Waterlogging increased lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, proline, glutamic acid and glutathione contents, while superoxide dismutase, peroxidases, and catalase activities were decreased. The glucose and fructose contents were accumulated contrary to sucrose that was reduced remarkably throughout the stress periods. The level of endogenous indole acetic acid (IAA) was increased in waterlogging, but decreased after reoxygenation. However, the change trends of jasmonic acid (JA), cytokinins, and abscisic acid (ABA) levels were opposite to IAA. In transcriptomic analysis, there were 13,343 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with higher and 16,112 genes with lower expression. These DEGs were greatly enriched in carbohydrate metabolism, anaerobic fermentation, glutathione metabolism, and IAA hormone biosynthesis under waterlogging, while were significantly enriched in photosynthesis, ROS scavenging, ABA and JA hormones biosynthesis in reoxygenation. Moreover, several genes related to stress response, carbohydrate metabolism and hormones biosynthesis were significantly changed in waterlogging and reoxygenation, which indicated unbalanced amino acid, carbon and fatty acid pools in peach roots. Taken together, these results suggest that glutathione, primary sugars, and hormone biosynthesis and signaling might play key roles in plant response to waterlogging. Our work provides a comprehensive understanding of gene regulatory networks and metabolites in waterlogging stress and its recuperation, which will facilitate peach waterlogging control.

Melatonin promotes the recovery of apple plants after waterlogging by shaping the structure and function of the rhizosphere microbiome

“…Melatonin can reduce water loss in leaves by enhancing ROS scavenging, thereby reducing lipid peroxidation and membrane leakage (Cao, Du, Yin, et al, 2023; Gu et al, 2021). The increased activity of ROS‐scavenging enzymes, such as SOD, POD, CAT and APX, during recovery plays a crucial role in enhancing the antioxidant capacity of apple plants (Ateeq et al, 2023) and the beneficial effects of melatonin are linked to regulation of enzyme activities (Moustafa‐Farag et al, 2020; Su et al, 2019). A decrease in photosynthesis is caused by a decrease in TCC and stomatal closure after waterlogging stress (Najeeb et al, 2015).…”

“…With climate change, the frequency and intensity of local extreme precipitation are increasing, and very destructive, unpredictable, uncontrollable floods are causing great damage to agriculture and forestry (Ateeq et al, 2023; Martínez‐Arias et al, 2022). Trees that are not adapted to flooding suffer more severe waterlogging stress and are more vulnerable to damage and death (Fukao et al, 2019; He, Luo, et al, 2023).…”

Physiological, Epigenetic, and Transcriptome Analyses Provide Insights into the Responses of Wheat Seedling Leaves to Different Water Depths under Flooding Conditions

“…When plants are exposed to waterlogging, the DEGs regulating PYL are significantly activated and upregulated [39]. The level of endogenous IAA was increased in Prunus persica leaves under waterlogging stress [45]. AUX/IAA and SAUR are the two major classes of primary auxin response genes.…”

Characterization of OsPIN2 Mutants Reveal Novel Roles for Reactive Oxygen Species in Modulating Not Only Root Gravitropism but Also Hypoxia Tolerance in Rice Seedlings

“…Over accumulation of ROS can disturb cellular homeostasis between antioxidants and oxidants that will lead to oxidative stress, trigger membrane lipid peroxidation, and adversely affect membrane functions, and cause leakage of electrolytes, and serious damage of DNA and proteins [ 9 , 10 ]. In this respect, lower ROS accumulation during and following submergence may be associated with increased hypoxic tolerance [ 11 , 12 ]. However, on the other hand, ROS act as signaling molecules to regulate cellular signal transduction and various cellular processes at the physiological level [ 7 ].…”