Physiological, Metabolic and Transcriptional Responses of Basil (Ocimum basilicum Linn. var. pilosum (Willd.) Benth.) to Heat Stress

Abstract

As a medicinal and edible plant, basil (Ocimum basilicum Linn. var. pilosum (Willd.) Benth.) has rich nutrition and significant economic value. The increase in heat stress caused by global warming adversely affects the growth and yield of plants. However, the response mechanism of basil to heat stress is poorly understood. This work investigated the changes in phenotype, metabolome, and transcriptome in basil under heat stress. The results showed that heat stress triggered severe oxidative damage and photosynthesis inhibition in basil. Metabonomic analysis showed that, compared to the control group, 29 significantly differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified after 1 d of heat treatment, and 37 DAMs after the treatment of 3 d. The DAMs were significantly enriched by several pathways such as glycolysis or gluconeogenesis; aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis; and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. In addition, transcriptomic analysis revealed that 15,066 and 15,445 genes were differentially expressed after 1 d and 3 d of heat treatment, respectively. Among them, 11,183 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were common response genes under 1 d and 3 d heat treatment, including 5437 down-regulated DEGs and 6746 up-regulated DEGs. All DEGs were significantly enriched in various KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways, most dominated by glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, followed by starch and sucrose metabolism, and by the biosynthesis and metabolism of other secondary metabolites. Overall, all the above results provided some valuable insights into the molecular mechanism of basil in response to heat stress.

In-silico analysis of heat shock transcription factor (OsHSF) gene family in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

“…The abiotic stresses like high temperatures and drought are particularly important because they can severely restrict plant growth, development, and function. Due to sessile structure of plants, which precludes them from actively avoiding stress, plants are dependent on physiological and biochemical processes to withstand external extremes [ 2 , 3 ]. As a result, they must create a wide range of complex and effective mechanism to maintain normal physiology, metabolism, and development under stress conditions.…”

Physiological, Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Response of Basil (O. basilicum Linn. var. pilosum (Willd.) Benth.) to Red and Blue Light

“…Benth.) [33,56], and this study will therefore facilitate our understanding of the chemical components of basil. Furthermore, DAMs were screened to uncover the effects of light spectra on metabolites.…”

Miscellaneous Sets of Abiotic Stresses and Plant Strategies to Cope with Them

“…All DEGs were significantly enriched in various KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways. Taken together, all of these responses generated useful information which improved our knowledge regarding plants' response mechanisms to heat stress, which in turn could be useful for crop breeding [6].…”

“…Throughout this Special Issue, some of the stresses mentioned above, as well as the resistance mechanisms implemented at different stages of the vegetative and reproductive cycles of plants (seed, seedling, adult plant or fruit), will be discussed, including: a review regarding oxidative stress, ageing and methods of seed invigoration; a study on how to control the availability of water in substrate and water deficit responses in variegata, a type of ornamental plant; an analysis of the postharvest quality of peach fruit under optimal and stressful temperatures; a review concerning nutritional disorders related to the macronutrient calcium and strategies to avoid them, such as soilless production systems; the salt stress resistance of soapwort, a native Chinese plant; responses to heat stress in basil plants; drought stress responses of Chinese Melia azedarach of different origins; responses to UV and cold stress in rice plants associated with the expression of genes associated with the production of phytoalexins; an electron microscopy analysis of histological changes in wheat plants due to salinity; an analysis of the resilience of oilseed grown in greenhouses under stress conditions which simulate the future climate change scenario, using a variety of techniques; and a study of the different responses of field bean to the application of electromagnetic fields [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12].…”