Genotype-dependent response to water deficit: increases in maize cell wall digestibility occurs through reducing both p-coumaric acid and lignification of the rind

IntroductionThe compositional dynamics of the cell wall are influenced by drought, and it has been demonstrated that water deficit induces significant changes in its main components. Moreover, changes in cell wall concentration and distribution in response to water deficit affect maize degradability...

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Main Authors: Ana López-Malvar, Oscar Main, Sophie Guillaume, Marie-Pierre Jacquemot, Florence Meunier, Pedro Revilla, Rogelio Santiago, Valerie Mechin, Matthieu Reymond
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1571407/full
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author Ana López-Malvar
Ana López-Malvar
Oscar Main
Oscar Main
Sophie Guillaume
Marie-Pierre Jacquemot
Florence Meunier
Pedro Revilla
Rogelio Santiago
Valerie Mechin
Valerie Mechin
Matthieu Reymond
author_facet Ana López-Malvar
Ana López-Malvar
Oscar Main
Oscar Main
Sophie Guillaume
Marie-Pierre Jacquemot
Florence Meunier
Pedro Revilla
Rogelio Santiago
Valerie Mechin
Valerie Mechin
Matthieu Reymond
author_sort Ana López-Malvar
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe compositional dynamics of the cell wall are influenced by drought, and it has been demonstrated that water deficit induces significant changes in its main components. Moreover, changes in cell wall concentration and distribution in response to water deficit affect maize degradability.Material and methodsThis study presents a histological and biochemical analysis of thirteen maize inbred lines, evaluated over two years in Pobra de Brollón (Spain) and Mauguio (France) under contrasting water availability conditions. Our aim was to investigate the environmental and genotypic impacts on histological and biochemical profiles, to assess in vitro cell wall digestibility under water deficit, and to explore how these responses relate to changes in cell wall composition and structure.Results and discussionOverall, we observed greater concentrations of p-coumaric acid under control conditions, with significant decreases in stressed conditions at each location. Histologically, we found an increase in non-lignified tissues under water deficit conditions across all tissues at each location as well. In terms of in vitro cell wall digestibility (IVCWRD), significant increases were detected in response to water deficit. Additionally, genotype-dependent response patterns were evident, revealing two distinct behavioural groups. Notably, in plastic genotypes, increases in IVCWRD in response to water deficit were concomitant to reductions in p-coumaric acid content and a decrease in red-stained lignified tissues in the rind. This study emphasizes the complex, genotype-dependent responses to water deficit, underscoring the important roles of plasticity and stability in shaping the impact on maize cell wall digestibility; paving the way to breed for adapted genotypes to face climate changes.
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spelling doaj-art-744e2d8dfdc447f2bc92050465e53bff2025-08-20T02:56:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-05-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15714071571407Genotype-dependent response to water deficit: increases in maize cell wall digestibility occurs through reducing both p-coumaric acid and lignification of the rindAna López-Malvar0Ana López-Malvar1Oscar Main2Oscar Main3Sophie Guillaume4Marie-Pierre Jacquemot5Florence Meunier6Pedro Revilla7Rogelio Santiago8Valerie Mechin9Valerie Mechin10Matthieu Reymond11Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ciencias del Suelo, Agrobiología Ambiental, Calidad de Suelos y Plantas, Universidad de Vigo, As Lagoas Marcosende, Unidad Asociada a la Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC), Vigo, SpainUniversité Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences (IJPB), Versailles, FranceUniversité Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences (IJPB), Versailles, FranceIATE, University of Montpellier, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, FranceUniversité Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences (IJPB), Versailles, FranceUniversité Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences (IJPB), Versailles, FranceUnité Expérimentale DiaScope, INRAE, Mauguio, FranceDepartamento de Producción Vegetal, Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC), Pontevedra, SpainDepartamento de Producción Vegetal, Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC), Pontevedra, SpainUniversité Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences (IJPB), Versailles, FranceUMR AGAP Institute, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, FranceUniversité Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences (IJPB), Versailles, FranceIntroductionThe compositional dynamics of the cell wall are influenced by drought, and it has been demonstrated that water deficit induces significant changes in its main components. Moreover, changes in cell wall concentration and distribution in response to water deficit affect maize degradability.Material and methodsThis study presents a histological and biochemical analysis of thirteen maize inbred lines, evaluated over two years in Pobra de Brollón (Spain) and Mauguio (France) under contrasting water availability conditions. Our aim was to investigate the environmental and genotypic impacts on histological and biochemical profiles, to assess in vitro cell wall digestibility under water deficit, and to explore how these responses relate to changes in cell wall composition and structure.Results and discussionOverall, we observed greater concentrations of p-coumaric acid under control conditions, with significant decreases in stressed conditions at each location. Histologically, we found an increase in non-lignified tissues under water deficit conditions across all tissues at each location as well. In terms of in vitro cell wall digestibility (IVCWRD), significant increases were detected in response to water deficit. Additionally, genotype-dependent response patterns were evident, revealing two distinct behavioural groups. Notably, in plastic genotypes, increases in IVCWRD in response to water deficit were concomitant to reductions in p-coumaric acid content and a decrease in red-stained lignified tissues in the rind. This study emphasizes the complex, genotype-dependent responses to water deficit, underscoring the important roles of plasticity and stability in shaping the impact on maize cell wall digestibility; paving the way to breed for adapted genotypes to face climate changes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1571407/fulldrought, maizep-coumaric acidlignificationhistologycell wall digestibility
spellingShingle Ana López-Malvar
Ana López-Malvar
Oscar Main
Oscar Main
Sophie Guillaume
Marie-Pierre Jacquemot
Florence Meunier
Pedro Revilla
Rogelio Santiago
Valerie Mechin
Valerie Mechin
Matthieu Reymond
Genotype-dependent response to water deficit: increases in maize cell wall digestibility occurs through reducing both p-coumaric acid and lignification of the rind
Frontiers in Plant Science
drought, maize
p-coumaric acid
lignification
histology
cell wall digestibility
title Genotype-dependent response to water deficit: increases in maize cell wall digestibility occurs through reducing both p-coumaric acid and lignification of the rind
title_full Genotype-dependent response to water deficit: increases in maize cell wall digestibility occurs through reducing both p-coumaric acid and lignification of the rind
title_fullStr Genotype-dependent response to water deficit: increases in maize cell wall digestibility occurs through reducing both p-coumaric acid and lignification of the rind
title_full_unstemmed Genotype-dependent response to water deficit: increases in maize cell wall digestibility occurs through reducing both p-coumaric acid and lignification of the rind
title_short Genotype-dependent response to water deficit: increases in maize cell wall digestibility occurs through reducing both p-coumaric acid and lignification of the rind
title_sort genotype dependent response to water deficit increases in maize cell wall digestibility occurs through reducing both p coumaric acid and lignification of the rind
topic drought, maize
p-coumaric acid
lignification
histology
cell wall digestibility
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1571407/full
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