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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #329428
Title: Differential metabolome analysis of field-grown maize kernels in response to drought stress

Author
item YANG, LIMING - University Of Georgia
item FOUNTAIN, JAKE - University Of Georgia
item Ni, Xinzhi
item LEE, ROBERT - University Of Georgia
item CHEN, SIXUE - University Of Florida
item Scully, Brian
item KEMERAIT, ROBERT - University Of Georgia
item Guo, Baozhu

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/21/2016
Publication Date: 7/30/2016
Citation: Yang, L., Fountain, J.C., Ni, X., Lee, R.D., Chen, S., Scully, B.T., Kemerait, R.C., Guo, B. 2016. Differential metabolome analysis of field-grown maize kernels in response to drought stress [abstract]. American Phytopathological Society Abstracts.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Drought stress constrains maize kernel development and can exacerbate aflatoxin contamination. In order to identify drought responsive metabolites and explore pathways involved in kernel responses, a metabolomics analysis was conducted on kernels from a drought tolerant line, Lo964, and a sensitive line, B73, with and without drought stress treatment for 7 and 14 days after drought induction beginning 7 days after pollination. Using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with MS/MS, we profiled 445 metabolites covering 42 pathways. Drought stress induced higher accumulation of glycerolipid and phospholipid metabolites, and decreased content of galactolipid, amines and polyamines, amino sugar, and nucleotide sugar metabolites in both lines. However, B73 was found to accumulate fewer metabolites involved in dipeptide and pyrimidine metabolism under drought stress than Lo964. Lo964 also exhibited increases in sphingolipid, sterol, and purine metabolism in comparison to B73. Collectively, higher sugar accumulation, a lower rate of energy metabolism, and elevated lipid and nucleic acid turnover was observed in B73. Conversely, higher amino acid and dipeptide accumulation, a lower TCA cycle rate, and elevated lipid and nucleic acid turnover was observed in Lo964 in response to drought stress. These results suggest that drought sensitivity is associated with differential metabolite accumulation, and diverse metabolic pathways in maize kernels.