Comparative Analysis of Untargeted Metabolomics in Tolerant and Sensitive Genotypes of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Seeds Exposed to Terminal Drought Stress

Abstract

Many environmental stresses can affect the accumulation of metabolites in plants, including drought. In the present study, we found a great deal of variability in the seed metabolic profiles of the tolerant (Matterhorn, SB-DT2 and SB-DT3) common bean genotypes in comparison to the sensitive genotypes (Sawtooth, Merlot and Stampede) using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). The genotypes were grown in the field and subjected to drought stress after flowering (terminal drought stress). We aimed to investigate the accumulation of genotype-specific metabolites and related pathways under terminal drought stress by comparing tolerant and sensitive genotypes within a race. A total of 26 potential metabolites were identified across genotype comparisons. Significant metabolic pathways, including monobactam biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, pentose phosphate pathway, C5-branched dibasic acid metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism, vitamin B6 metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis, were derived from the enriched metabolites. Many of these metabolic pathways were specific and varied with genotype comparisons. SB-DT2 vs. stampede revealed more significant metabolites and metabolic pathways compared to Matterhorn vs. Sawtooth and SB-DT3 vs. Merlot under terminal drought stress. Our study provides useful information regarding the metabolite profiles of seeds and their related pathways in comparisons of tolerant and sensitive common bean genotypes under terminal drought conditions. Further research, including transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, may contribute to a better understanding of molecular mechanisms and nutritional differences among seeds of common bean genotypes grown under terminal drought conditions.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Tolerant and Sensitive Genotypes of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Response to Terminal Drought Stress

“…Tolerant genotypes: Merlot’//05F-5055-1/98020-3-1-6-2 (SB-DT3), and USPT-ANT//‘Matterhorn’/98078-5-15-1(SB-DT2) [ 24 ], Matterhorn [ 25 ], and three sensitive genotypes: Sawtooth [ 26 ], Merlot [ 27 ], and Stampede [ 28 ]. The field experiment was conducted as described previously [ 29 ] ( Figure 1 ). A field of silt loam soil (Typic Ustorthents) was used for the cultivation of the common bean genotypes (41°56.6′ N, 103°41.9′ W, 1240 m elevation).…”

“…The samples were collected from three sensitive and three tolerant genotypes grown under terminal drought stress in three replicates, resulting in 18 samples [(3 × 3) + (3 × 3)]. Agronomic characters of the tolerant and sensitive genotypes as well as their starch and fat contents were analyzed in our previous study [ 29 ], Subramani et al, 2022. For each genotype, RNA isolation and library preparation were performed separately.…”

Comprehensive Proteomic Analysis of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Seeds Reveal Shared and Unique Proteins Involved in Terminal Drought Stress Response in Tolerant and Sensitive Genotypes

“…Four common bean genotypes (Supplementary Table S1), two tolerant (SB-DT3 and SB-DT2), and two sensitive (Merlot and Stampede) to drought, were grown in Scottsbluff, NE research station with a silty-loam soil of 75% silt, 15% sand, and 10% clay located at an elevation of 1240 m, and with a latitude of 41 • 56.6 ′ N and a longitude of 103 • 41.9 ′ W. The soil health and the history of agricultural practices followed were available for the site. A detailed experimental design has been reported [26,28]. This study utilized a randomized block design (RBD) with four replications.…”

“…A total of 24 common bean seed proteome samples were collected from two sensitive and two tolerant genotypes with three replicates each. The genotypes and their respective races were specified in [26]. Supplementary Table S1 details the physiological performances, including yield, flowering, maturity days, and 100 seed weight, under both stress and control conditions.…”

“…They represent the leading market class in the United States (NASS, 2020). Using transcriptomics (RNA-Seq) and metabolomics approaches, we recently reported that the tolerant genotypes SB-DT2 and SB-DT3 perform well even under drought stress conditions [26,27]. In contrast, drought stress conditions have significantly reduced the yield and performance of Merlot and Stampede (sensitive) genotypes under drought stress conditions [28].…”