Changes in Metabolic Profiles of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) as a Result of Repeated Short-Term Soil Drought and Subsequent Re-Watering

Abstract

The metabolic re-arrangements of peas (Pisum sativum L.) under soil drought and re-watering are still not fully explained. The search for metabolic markers of the stress response is important in breeding programs, to allow for the selection drought-resistant cultivars. During the present study, changes in the polar metabolite content in pea plant shoots were measured under repeated short-term soil drought and subsequent re-watering. A gas chromatograph, equipped with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS), was used for the metabolite profiling of pea plants during their middle stage of vegetation (14–34 days after sowing, DAS). The major changes occurred in the concentration of amino acids and some soluble carbohydrates. Among them, proline, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), branched-chain amino acids, hydroxyproline, serine, myo-inositol, and raffinose were accumulated under each soil drought and decreased after re-watering. Besides, the obtained results show that the first drought/re-watering cycle increased the ability of pea plants to restore a metabolic profile similar to the control after the second similar stress. The accumulation of proline seems to be an important part of drought memory in pea plants. However, confirmation of this suggestion requires metabolite profiling studies on a broader spectrum of pea cultivars.

Combining Metabolic Analysis With Biological Endpoints Provides a View Into the Drought Resistance Mechanism of Carex breviculmis

“…For instance aspartic acid was elevated under drought in some studies ( Haghighi et al, 2020 ) while decreased in others ( Khan et al, 2019 ). Such a discrepancy under drought stress was also found in 2-oxoglutarate ( Zhang et al, 2021a vs. Silvente et al, 2012 ), malic acid ( Lahuta et al, 2022 vs. Ashrafi et al, 2018 ), gulose ( Erxleben et al, 2012 vs. Rizhsky et al, 2004 ), succinate ( Zhang et al, 2021b vs. Hamanishi et al, 2015 ). The changes in these metabolites and pathways ultimately lead to changes in external and internal biological endpoints of plants.…”

“…Such a discrepancy under drought stress was also found in 2-oxoglutarate (Zhang et al, 2021avs. Silvente et al, 2012, malic acid (Lahuta et al, 2022vs. Ashrafi et al, 2018, gulose (Erxleben et al, 2012vs.…”

Carbon fluxes and environmental interactions during legume development, with a specific focus on Pisum sativum

“…To face such water stress, the first plant responses include a decrease in photosynthesis and transpiration activities followed by an accumulation of osmoprotectants (non‐reducing sugars, polyols, amino acids, etc.) in both roots and leaves (Kumar et al, 2021; Lahuta et al, 2022). This higher osmotic potential maintains root water uptake from the soil (Kumar et al, 2021; Lahuta et al, 2022) (Table 1).…”

“…in both roots and leaves (Kumar et al, 2021; Lahuta et al, 2022). This higher osmotic potential maintains root water uptake from the soil (Kumar et al, 2021; Lahuta et al, 2022) (Table 1). In seven‐day‐old pea seedlings, an earlier accumulation of sucrose was observed in roots than in epicotyl after 24 h of dehydration, followed by an accumulation of galactinol and raffinose (RFOs family) in both organs (Lahuta et al, 2014).…”

Memory or acclimation of water stress in pea rely on root system's plasticity and plant's ionome modulation

“…To our knowledge, studies dealing with pea responses to water stress mainly concern transient stresses; plant memory and acclimation to water stress have rarely been studied in this species. We can take into consideration a study highlighting the impact of recurrent stress on the pea shoot metabolome ( Lahuta et al., 2022 ). Taking into consideration what has been described in the literature for several species, we can hypothesize that pea memory and acclimation to water stress involve different physiological changes in plant adaptation.…”