Transcriptomic profiling reveals response mechanisms of Lactuca indica seedlings to seawater irrigation stress

IntroductionThe increasing global soil salinization has accelerated research on seawater irrigation agriculture. Developing wild vegetables through seawater irrigation could establish foundational strategies for utilizing island vegetable germplasm resources.MethodsThis study investigated two distin...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dingding Cao, Lirong Xiang, Ziling Li, Neng Wei, Qingfeng Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1599564/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850212493230604288
author Dingding Cao
Lirong Xiang
Ziling Li
Neng Wei
Neng Wei
Qingfeng Wang
Qingfeng Wang
author_facet Dingding Cao
Lirong Xiang
Ziling Li
Neng Wei
Neng Wei
Qingfeng Wang
Qingfeng Wang
author_sort Dingding Cao
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe increasing global soil salinization has accelerated research on seawater irrigation agriculture. Developing wild vegetables through seawater irrigation could establish foundational strategies for utilizing island vegetable germplasm resources.MethodsThis study investigated two distinct leaf-shaped individuals (S and Y) of wild Lactuca indica (L. indica) through hydroponic experiments with diluted seawater during seedling stage. Physiological and morphological assessments revealed that Y exhibited superior seawater tolerance compared to S. Tissue-specific -plant transcriptome analysis identified key metabolic pathways and regulatory genes in roots, stems, and leaves.ResultsDifferential gene expression analysis showed tissue-specific enrichment patterns: leaves predominantly enriched light-harvesting complex (LHC) genes in photosynthesis pathways; stems exhibited upregulation in cutin, suberin, and wax biosynthesis pathways; while roots showed activation of nitrogen metabolism pathways.DiscussionBased on the data from transcriptomics, we infered that the key salt-tolerant candidate genes include: (1) leaf-specific LHC genes enhancing photosynthetic efficiency; (2) stem-expressed wax biosynthesis gene aldehyde decarbonylase CER1, and cytochrome P450 family members fatty acid omega-hydroxylase CYP86A4S and cytochrome P450 family 77 subfamily A (CYP77A); and (3) root-specific nitrogen metabolism regulators (nitrate reductase (NR), nitrate/nitrite transporter 2 (NRT2), and nitrite reductase (NirA). This study provides the comprehensive tissue-specific transcriptome profile of wild L. indica under seawater irrigation, predicting crucial metabolic pathways and candidate genes that might enhance seawater tolerance. Our findings establish a valuable reference for salt tolerance research in wild vegetables and offer potential genetic targets for improving crop resilience in saline-affected ecosystems.
format Article
id doaj-art-d381b4e7e38440f3825005cab5978e93
institution OA Journals
issn 1664-462X
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Plant Science
spelling doaj-art-d381b4e7e38440f3825005cab5978e932025-08-20T02:09:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-06-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15995641599564Transcriptomic profiling reveals response mechanisms of Lactuca indica seedlings to seawater irrigation stressDingding Cao0Lirong Xiang1Ziling Li2Neng Wei3Neng Wei4Qingfeng Wang5Qingfeng Wang6Fujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, ChinaFujian Key Laboratory on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Marine Biodiversity, Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, College of Geography and Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, ChinaSino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, ChinaSino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, ChinaIntroductionThe increasing global soil salinization has accelerated research on seawater irrigation agriculture. Developing wild vegetables through seawater irrigation could establish foundational strategies for utilizing island vegetable germplasm resources.MethodsThis study investigated two distinct leaf-shaped individuals (S and Y) of wild Lactuca indica (L. indica) through hydroponic experiments with diluted seawater during seedling stage. Physiological and morphological assessments revealed that Y exhibited superior seawater tolerance compared to S. Tissue-specific -plant transcriptome analysis identified key metabolic pathways and regulatory genes in roots, stems, and leaves.ResultsDifferential gene expression analysis showed tissue-specific enrichment patterns: leaves predominantly enriched light-harvesting complex (LHC) genes in photosynthesis pathways; stems exhibited upregulation in cutin, suberin, and wax biosynthesis pathways; while roots showed activation of nitrogen metabolism pathways.DiscussionBased on the data from transcriptomics, we infered that the key salt-tolerant candidate genes include: (1) leaf-specific LHC genes enhancing photosynthetic efficiency; (2) stem-expressed wax biosynthesis gene aldehyde decarbonylase CER1, and cytochrome P450 family members fatty acid omega-hydroxylase CYP86A4S and cytochrome P450 family 77 subfamily A (CYP77A); and (3) root-specific nitrogen metabolism regulators (nitrate reductase (NR), nitrate/nitrite transporter 2 (NRT2), and nitrite reductase (NirA). This study provides the comprehensive tissue-specific transcriptome profile of wild L. indica under seawater irrigation, predicting crucial metabolic pathways and candidate genes that might enhance seawater tolerance. Our findings establish a valuable reference for salt tolerance research in wild vegetables and offer potential genetic targets for improving crop resilience in saline-affected ecosystems.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1599564/fulldifferential gene expressionsalt toleranceseawater irrigationtranscriptome analysiswild vegetables
spellingShingle Dingding Cao
Lirong Xiang
Ziling Li
Neng Wei
Neng Wei
Qingfeng Wang
Qingfeng Wang
Transcriptomic profiling reveals response mechanisms of Lactuca indica seedlings to seawater irrigation stress
Frontiers in Plant Science
differential gene expression
salt tolerance
seawater irrigation
transcriptome analysis
wild vegetables
title Transcriptomic profiling reveals response mechanisms of Lactuca indica seedlings to seawater irrigation stress
title_full Transcriptomic profiling reveals response mechanisms of Lactuca indica seedlings to seawater irrigation stress
title_fullStr Transcriptomic profiling reveals response mechanisms of Lactuca indica seedlings to seawater irrigation stress
title_full_unstemmed Transcriptomic profiling reveals response mechanisms of Lactuca indica seedlings to seawater irrigation stress
title_short Transcriptomic profiling reveals response mechanisms of Lactuca indica seedlings to seawater irrigation stress
title_sort transcriptomic profiling reveals response mechanisms of lactuca indica seedlings to seawater irrigation stress
topic differential gene expression
salt tolerance
seawater irrigation
transcriptome analysis
wild vegetables
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1599564/full
work_keys_str_mv AT dingdingcao transcriptomicprofilingrevealsresponsemechanismsoflactucaindicaseedlingstoseawaterirrigationstress
AT lirongxiang transcriptomicprofilingrevealsresponsemechanismsoflactucaindicaseedlingstoseawaterirrigationstress
AT zilingli transcriptomicprofilingrevealsresponsemechanismsoflactucaindicaseedlingstoseawaterirrigationstress
AT nengwei transcriptomicprofilingrevealsresponsemechanismsoflactucaindicaseedlingstoseawaterirrigationstress
AT nengwei transcriptomicprofilingrevealsresponsemechanismsoflactucaindicaseedlingstoseawaterirrigationstress
AT qingfengwang transcriptomicprofilingrevealsresponsemechanismsoflactucaindicaseedlingstoseawaterirrigationstress
AT qingfengwang transcriptomicprofilingrevealsresponsemechanismsoflactucaindicaseedlingstoseawaterirrigationstress