Transcriptome revealed the molecular mechanism of Glycyrrhiza inflata root to maintain growth and development, absorb and distribute ions under salt stress

Abstract

Background Soil salinization extensively hampers the growth, yield, and quality of crops worldwide. The most effective strategies to counter this problem are a) development of crop cultivars with high salt tolerance and b) the plantation of salt-tolerant crops. Glycyrrhiza inflata, a traditional Chinese medicinal and primitive plant with salt tolerance and economic value, is among the most promising crops for improving saline-alkali wasteland. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms for the adaptive response of G. inflata to salinity stress remain largely unknown. Result G. inflata retained a high concentration of Na+ in roots and maintained the absorption of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ under 150 mM NaCl induced salt stress. Transcriptomic analysis of G. inflata roots at different time points of salt stress (0 min, 30 min, and 24 h) was performed, which resulted in 70.77 Gb of clean data. Compared with the control, we detected 2645 and 574 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 30 min and 24 h post-salt-stress induction, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses revealed that G. inflata response to salt stress post 30 min and 24 h was remarkably distinct. Genes that were differentially expressed at 30 min post-salt stress induction were enriched in signal transduction, secondary metabolite synthesis, and ion transport. However, genes that were differentially expressed at 24 h post-salt-stress induction were enriched in phenylpropane biosynthesis and metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, glycerol metabolism, hormone signal transduction, wax, cutin, and cork biosynthesis. Besides, a total of 334 transcription factors (TFs) were altered in response to 30 min and 24 h of salt stress. Most of these TFs belonged to the MYB, WRKY, AP2-EREBP, C2H2, bHLH, bZIP, and NAC families. Conclusion For the first time, this study elucidated the salt tolerance in G. inflata at the molecular level, including the activation of signaling pathways and genes that regulate the absorption and distribution of ions and root growth in G. inflata under salt stress conditions. These findings enhanced our understanding of the G. inflata salt tolerance and provided a theoretical basis for cultivating salt-tolerant crop varieties.

Identification of the WRKY Gene Family and Characterization of Stress-Responsive Genes in Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin

“…Now, a growing stream of research suggests that the WRKY gene family plays important roles in plant development and substance metabolism. Many WRKY proteins have been certified in the plant kingdom, which are mainly related to seed dormancy and germination [ 8 , 9 ], embryogenesis [ 10 , 11 ], trichome development [ 12 , 13 ], pollen development [ 14 , 15 ], root development [ 16 ], modulation of flowering time [ 17 ], leaf senescence [ 18 ], plant nutrient utilization [ 19 ], and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites [ 20 ]. Although they play important roles in these situations, more important are their biological functions and molecular regulatory mechanisms in plant responses to biological and abiotic stresses [ 21 ].…”

Analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome reveals phenylpropanoid mechanism in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) responding to salt stress at sprout stage

“…Transcriptome, as a useful tool to investigate molecular mechanism of plants because of high accuracy and sensitivity (Smith et al, 2008; Teshome et al, 2020), which some kinds of crop (such as Triticum aestivum and Glycyrrhiza inflata ) had found the mechanism of plants to respond the salt stress through transcriptome (Nakayama et al, 2022; Xu et al, 2021). There are many ways to find candidate genes through transcriptome data including DEGs, co‐expression modules, and WGCNA (Amrine et al, 2015; Du et al, 2022; Langfelder & Horvath, 2008) while KEGG is a useful database to enriched these genes (Chen et al, 2017).…”

Comparative transcriptome analysis unveiling reactive oxygen species scavenging system of Sonneratia caseolaris under salinity stress

“…When plants were exposed to salt stress, many genes were significantly enriched in DEGs in the plant transcriptome ( Xu et al, 2021 ), which were also found to be associated with oxidation-reduction and hydrogen peroxide catabolic processes in S. caseolaris . Based on the GO enrichment analysis, these genes were involved in various molecular functions, including protein disulfide oxidoreductase activity, monooxygenase activity, and oxidoreductase activity.…”