NMR-based metabolomics reveals that plant-derived smoke stimulates root growth via affecting carbohydrate and energy metabolism in maize

The utility of metabolomics as a tool to inform maize biology

“…The maize metabolome is analyzed using essentially the same variety of methods used in other plant metabolomics studies, namely hyphenated mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) ( Obata and Fernie, 2012 ). Aside from several techniques rarely used in maize, such as infrared spectroscopy ( Pavlík et al., 2010 ), two major approaches dominate: MS (e.g., Václavík et al., 2013 ) and NMR (e.g., Çatav et al., 2018 ). The former is more sensitive, whereas the latter can better quantify metabolites and detect conformational isomers ( Obata and Fernie, 2012 ; Alseekh and Fernie, 2018 ).…”

“…Organochlorine pesticides were shown to alter the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis balance, inactivate the TCA cycle, redistribute nitrogen compounds, and increase fatty acid production and oxidation in maize roots ( Blondel et al., 2016 ). Smoke, not a stressor per se but an inducer of plant persistence and recolonization after wildfires, was shown to affect carbohydrate and energy pathways in young maize roots ( Çatav et al., 2018 ).…”

“…Several aspects of maize metabolism have received considerable attention, including (1) the role of the metabolome in the context of its participation in basic molecular processes and in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses and beneficial biotic interactions; (2) the nutritional composition of maize kernels and the molecular mechanisms that underlie the production of specific metabolites; (3) the means by which the metabolome and metabolic models link to leaf physiology and crop yield; (4) the metabolic alterations brought about by genetic modifications; and (5) the extent of natural variation in metabolism and its potential utility in breeding efforts. In addition, several further questions that cannot be strictly categorized have been addressed by maize metabolomics in recent studies on how pesticides influence the maize metabolome ( Blondel et al., 2016 ); how phloem sap metabolites correlate with kernel yield ( Yesbergenova-Cuny et al., 2016 ); how exposure of maize to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (toxic organic pollutants) affects the metabolome ( Sivaram et al., 2019 ); and the metabolic mechanisms that underlie plant root growth stimulation by smoke ( Çatav et al., 2018 ).…”

Fire-Borne Life: A Brief Review of Smoke-Induced Germination

“…33 The finding that not all smoke-responsive species responded to KAR treatment has led to the presumption that other active compounds may be present and may interact with KAR. 34 -36 Very little is known about the orchestrated, interactive effects of various smoke-derived compounds, which might be synergistic or antagonistic. 36 The most active compounds (such as karrikins and glyceronitrile) possibly act in concert and are likely to be responsible for the overall effect of smoke on germination or seedling vigor.…”

“…34 -36 Very little is known about the orchestrated, interactive effects of various smoke-derived compounds, which might be synergistic or antagonistic. 36 The most active compounds (such as karrikins and glyceronitrile) possibly act in concert and are likely to be responsible for the overall effect of smoke on germination or seedling vigor.…”