Metabolite and transcript profiling of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq) response to elevated [CO2] and temperature

Abstract

IntroductionBy mid-century, global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) is predicted to reach 600 μmol mol−1 with global temperatures rising by 2 °C. Rising [CO2] and temperature will alter the growth and productivity of major food and forage crops across the globe. Although the impact is expected to be greatest in tropical regions, the impact of climate-change has been poorly studied in those regions.ObjectivesThis experiment aimed to understand the effects of elevated [CO2] (600 μmol mol−1) and warming (+ 2 °C), singly and in combination, on Panicum maximum Jacq. (Guinea grass) metabolite and transcript profiles.MethodsWe created a de novo assembly of the Panicum maximum transcriptome. Leaf samples were taken at two time points in the Guinea grass growing season to analyze transcriptional and metabolite profiles in plants grown at ambient and elevated [CO2] and temperature, and statistical analyses were used to integrate the data.ResultsElevated temperature altered the content of amino acids and secondary metabolites. The transcriptome of Guinea grass shows a clear time point separations, with the changes in the elevated temperature and [CO2] combination plots.ConclusionField transcriptomics and metabolomics revealed that elevated temperature and [CO2] result in alterations in transcript and metabolite profiles associated with environmental response, secondary metabolism and stomatal function. These metabolic responses are consistent with greater growth and leaf area production under elevated temperature and [CO2]. These results show that tropical C4 grasslands may have unpredicted responses to global climate change, and that warming during a cool growing season enhances growth and alleviates stress.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s11306-019-1511-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Water stress and warming impact nutrient use efficiency of Mombasa grass (Megathyrsus maximus) in tropical conditions

“…Meanwhile, under warming and irrigated plots (eTiR), we observed an increase in leaf dry biomass production. This beneficial effect of warming was presumably associated with a higher leaf homeostatic capacity (Olivera‐Viciedo et al., 2019), a higher content of amino acids related to drought tolerance (Wedow et al., 2019), a higher accumulation of N, P, K and Ca (Figure 4a‐d), B, Cu, Fe, Mn (Figure 5a‐d) and an increase in the NUE of macronutrients (Figure 6a‐e), and micronutrients as Cu, Mn and Zn (Figure 7b, d, e). In addition, a greatest root growth under eTiR condition (Figure 3b‐e) was also found and this synchronization between shoot and root growth is necessary since a greater aerial growth increases the demand for more water and nutrient uptake from soil (Hodge et al., 2009).…”

Elevated CO2 and warming change the nutrient status and use efficiency of Panicum maximum Jacq

“…However, under heating, there was no increase in photosynthesis and transpiration [6,13], suggesting that under a warmed atmosphere, P. maximum may exhibit increased NUE. It was also observed that under heating, P. maximum exhibited an increase in the concentration of many amino acids, such as valine, threonine and phenylalanine, which have N in their structure [14]. In addition, warming may stimulate nutrient uptake through increased root system growth, increased nutrient diffusion rates and water in-flow [15] but at the same time, gain in dry mass on heating may result in a leaf N dilution effect in P. maximum [11].…”

Age‐dependent increase in α‐tocopherol and phytosterols in maize leaves exposed to elevated ozone pollution

“…Field metabolomics can be a powerful approach for profiling the metabolite changes in plants in response to environmental stress (Melandri et al., 2020; Wedow et al., 2019). The physiological response of crops to O 3 pollution has been well studied, with elevated [O 3 ] decreasing carbon assimilation, accelerating senescence and cell death, and reducing economic yield (Ainsworth, 2017).…”

“…More broadly, metabolomics provides a tool to explore biochemical signatures that may be predictive of environmental stress effects on primary productivity, even in field conditions. Studies have examined the relationship between leaf metabolites and physiological traits in the field under various abiotic stress conditions in maize (Obata et al., 2015; Riedelsheimer et al., 2012), rice (Melandri et al., 2020), and Guinea grass (Wedow et al., 2019). Additionally, metabolomics has been used to identify markers associated with greater yield potential in maize (Cañas et al., 2017).…”