A Metabolic Choreography of Maize Plants Treated with a Humic Substance-Based Biostimulant under Normal and Starved Conditions

Metabolites

Daniel Petras¹  Kyo Bin Kang²  Lerato Nephali³  Kgalaletso Othibeng³  Anza-Tshilidzi Ramabulana³  Paul Steenkamp³  Fidele Tugizimana³  Johan Huyser⁴  Hugo Opperman⁴ 

[1] CMFI Cluster of Excellence, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Medicine, University of Tubingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Korea;Department of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa;International Research and Development Division, Omnia Group, Ltd., Bryanston, Johannesburg 2021, South Africa;

关键词: abiotic stresses;    biostimulants;    humic substances;    metabolomics;    molecular networking;   

DOI  :  10.3390/metabo11060403

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Humic substance (HS)-based biostimulants show potentials as sustainable strategies for improved crop development and stress resilience. However, cellular and molecular mechanisms governing the agronomically observed effects of HS on plants remain enigmatic. Here, we report a global metabolic reprogramming of maize leaves induced by a humic biostimulant under normal and nutrient starvation conditions. This reconfiguration of the maize metabolism spanned chemical constellations, as revealed by molecular networking approaches. Plant growth and development under normal conditions were characterized by key differential metabolic changes such as increased levels of amino acids, oxylipins and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) intermediate, isocitric acid. Furthermore, under starvation, the humic biostimulant significantly impacted pathways that are involved in stress-alleviating mechanisms such as redox homeostasis, strengthening of the plant cell wall, osmoregulation, energy production and membrane remodelling. Thus, this study reveals that the humic biostimulant induces a remodelling of inter-compartmental metabolic networks in maize, subsequently readjusting the plant physiology towards growth promotion and stress alleviation. Such insights contribute to ongoing efforts in elucidating modes of action of biostimulants, generating fundamental scientific knowledge that is necessary for development of the biostimulant industry, for sustainable food security.

【 授权许可】

Unknown