J Sci Food Agric. 2025 Dec 4. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.70365. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Sideroxylon spinosum L., an endemic Moroccan species, holds significant ecological and socioeconomic importance. Drought stress severely affects plant survival by disrupting metabolic and physiological processes. This study aimed to investigate drought-induced metabolic changes and identify potential biomarkers in two S. spinosum L. ecotypes that contrast primarily in their climatic origins – Aoulouz (Alz, inland) and Lakhssas (Lks, coastal) – using metabolomic analysis.
RESULTS: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis detected 700 and 600 peaks in Lks and Alz leaves, respectively, with 120 and 100 corresponding to known metabolites. Under drought stress conditions, statistical analysis (t-test, P < 0.05) identified 44 significant metabolites in Lks and 56 in Alz. According to the volcano plot (log₁₀(P) versus log₂ fold change), 34 metabolites were upregulated and 10 downregulated in Lks, whereas 25 were upregulated and 31 downregulated in Alz. The criteria for significance included a fold change ≥ 2.0 and false discovery rate < 0.05. Multivariate analyses showed clear separation between control and drought-stressed samples. Based on variable importance in projection scores and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, ten potential drought-tolerance biomarkers were identified. In Alz, two upregulated metabolites (M65 (lupeol) and M102 (octadecane)) and three downregulated metabolites (M108 (octacosane), M123 (5-octadecene, E) and M200 (4-nitrobenzylidenenemalonic acid, diethyl ester)) were key. In contrast, Lks exhibited five upregulated biomarkers: M6 (hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester), M54 (1,3,6,10-cyclotetradecatetraene, 3,7,11-trimethyl-14-(1-methylethyl)), M88, M91 and M142. Metabolites M65 and M102 in Alz likely enhance cuticular integrity and reactive oxygen species scavenging, while M6 and M54 in Lks suggest a reliance on lipid signaling and energy metabolism for transient drought adaptation. However, the Lks ecotype could be less resilient under prolonged drought due to a greater ability to reallocation metabolism. These biomarkers offer valuable targets for breeding or biotechnological interventions.
CONCLUSION: This study offers valuable insights into the metabolic mechanisms involved in drought defense in S. spinosum L. and highlights specific biomarkers linked to drought tolerance. The Alz ecotype demonstrates enhanced resilience through cuticular reinforcement and oxidative stress mitigation, whereas the Lks ecotype relies on transient metabolic adjustments. These findings offer valuable insights and potential targets for improving drought tolerance in plants through future research. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
PMID:41342197 | DOI:10.1002/jsfa.70365
