Decoding the metabolic landscape of maize responses to experimentally controlled drought stress: A greenhouse case study

Fidele Tugizimana, Lerato Nephali, Motseoa Lephatsi, Kekeletso Chele, Paul Steenkamp, Nombuso Buthelezi, Hugo Opperman, Johan Huyser

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Metabolomics, a multidisciplinary omics science, has disruptively positioned itself as one of the key pillars in systems biology, decoding metabolic circuits that govern biological processes in a specific environment. This chapter illustrates the use of metabolomics in investigating plant-environment interactions; describing a greenhouse case study on maize plants responding to drought conditions. In this study, stress-responsive metabolic adjustments, spanning various pathways in maize primary and secondary metabolisms, were profiled. Alterations in hydroxycinnamic acid (HCA) metabolites, such as chlorogenic acids, HCA-amides, HCA-hydroxycitric acids, and HCA-sugars, were observed. The levels of chlorogenic acids, (particularly feruloylquinic-, caffeoylquinic-, and coumaroylquinic acids) decreased as a response to drought conditions. Furthermore, maize responses to drought conditions involved differential changes in amino acid levels (methionine, proline, tyrosine, and valine), in malic-, isocitric- and fumaric acids, and in oxylipins. The elucidated maize stress-responsive metabolic landscape reflects a reprograming of metabolism toward physiological and cellular processes such as stomatal regulation, ROS scavenging and redox homeostasis, regulation of intracellular ionic content, cell wall remodeling, and nutrient assimilation. Elucidating these abiotic-related metabolomic alterations is a piece of the puzzle of the complex regulation of cellular defensome to adverse environmental factors such as water-deficit. Furthermore, through this case study, the chapter articulates vital elements within workflows and approaches employed in an environmental metabolomics study, presenting methodological principles, and experimental and epistemological considerations that are followed to derive biologically meaningful information.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationApplied Environmental Metabolomics
Subtitle of host publicationCommunity Insights and Guidance from the Field
PublisherElsevier
Pages61-75
Number of pages15
ISBN (Electronic)9780128164600
ISBN (Print)9780128164617
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2022

Keywords

  • Abiotic stresses
  • Drought
  • Environmental metabolomics
  • Maize
  • Metabolomics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Economics,Econometrics and Finance
  • General Business,Management and Accounting

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Decoding the metabolic landscape of maize responses to experimentally controlled drought stress: A greenhouse case study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this