Analysis of the Antioxidant Mechanism of <i>Tamarix ramosissima</i> Roots under NaCl Stress Based on Physiology, Transcriptomic and Metabolomic

• Main Authors: Yahui Chen (Author), Haijia Li (Author), Shiyang Zhang (Author), Shanfeng Du (Author), Guangyu Wang (Author), Jinchi Zhang (Author), Jiang Jiang (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2022-11-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/antiox11122362; 2076-3921
• Keywords: NaCl stress; antioxidant mechanism; transcriptome; metabolome; NaCl toxicity; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950
• Source: Antioxidants, Vol 11, Iss 12, p 2362 (2022)

There is a serious problem with soil salinization that affects the growth and development of plants. <i>Tamarix ramosissima</i> Ledeb (<i>T</i>. <i>ramosissima</i>), as a halophyte, is widely used for afforestation in salinized soils. At present, there are few reports on the antioxidant mechanism of <i>T</i>. <i>ramosissima</i> under NaCl stress. In this study, we learned about the superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content changes in <i>T. ramosissima</i>. We also mined the relevant metabolic pathways in the antioxidant mechanism, candidate key genes, and their related differential metabolites and verified them using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The results show that the SOD, POD, and CAT activities, and the H₂O₂ and MDA content reached the highest values in the roots of <i>T. ramosissima</i>. Simultaneously, 92 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to antioxidant enzyme activities changed during 48 and 168 h of NaCl stress, and these DEGs were mainly upregulated in 168 h. Based on the association analysis of transcriptomic and metabolomic data, we found <i>Unigene0089358</i> and <i>Unigene0007782</i> as genes related to key enzymes in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. They were located in the upstream positive regulation at 48 and 168 h under NaCl stress, and their respective related metabolites (phloretin and pinocembrin) were involved in resistance to NaCl stress, and they were significantly correlated with their respective metabolites. In conclusion, at 48 and 168 h under NaCl stress, the roots of <i>T. ramosissima</i> resist NaCl stress by enhancing enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant mechanisms, scavenging ROS generated by high-salt stress, alleviating NaCl toxicity, and maintaining the growth of <i>T. ramosissima</i>. This study provides genetic resources and a scientific theoretical basis for further breeding of salt-tolerant <i>Tamarix</i> plants and the molecular mechanism of antioxidants to alleviate NaCl toxicity.