Investigating the dynamic responses of Aegilops tauschii Coss. to salinity, drought, and nitrogen stress: a comprehensive study of competitive growth and biochemical and molecular pathways

Adeel Abbas; Rashida Hameed; Muhammad Saeed; Aitezaz A A Shahani; Ping Huang; Daolin Du; Usman Zulfiqar; Saud Alamri; Alanoud T Alfagham

doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1238704

Investigating the dynamic responses of Aegilops tauschii Coss. to salinity, drought, and nitrogen stress: a comprehensive study of competitive growth and biochemical and molecular pathways

Front Plant Sci. 2023 Sep 6:14:1238704. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1238704. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Adeel Abbas¹, Rashida Hameed¹, Muhammad Saeed², Aitezaz A A Shahani³, Ping Huang¹, Daolin Du¹, Usman Zulfiqar⁴, Saud Alamri⁵, Alanoud T Alfagham⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
² Department of Weed Science and Botany, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
³ Key Laboratory of Crop Sciences and Plant Breeding Genetics, College of Agriculture, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, China.
⁴ Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
⁵ Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Aegilops tauschii (Coss.) is a highly deleterious, rapidly proliferating weed within the wheat, and its DD genome composition exhibits adaptability toward diverse abiotic stresses and demonstrates heightened efficacy in nutrient utilization. Current study investigated different variegated impacts of distinct nitrogen concentrations with varied plant densities, scrutinizing the behavior of Ae. tauschii under various salinity and drought stress levels through multiple physiological, biochemical, and molecular pathways. Different physiological parameters attaining high growth with different plant density and different nitrogen availability levels increased Ae. tauschii dominancy. Conversely, under the duress of salinity and drought, Ae. tauschii showcased an enhanced performance through a comprehensive array of physiological and biochemical parameters, including catalase, peroxidase, malondialdehyde, and proline content. Notably, salinity-associated traits such as sodium, potassium, and the sodium-potassium ratio exhibited significant variations and demonstrated remarkable tolerance capabilities. In the domain of molecular pathways, the HKT and DREB genes have displayed a remarkable upregulation, showcasing a comparatively elevated expression profile in reaction to different levels of salinity and drought-induced stress. Without a doubt, this information will make a substantial contribution to the understanding of the fundamental behavioral tendencies and the efficiency of nutrient utilization in Ae. tauschii. Moreover, it will offer innovative viewpoints for integrated management, thereby enabling the enhancement of strategies for adept control and alleviation.

Keywords: Aegilops tauschii Coss; abiotic stress; gene expression; mechanism; physio-chemical properties.

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP2023R194), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This work was also supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32271587 and 31200316), Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Technology Innovation Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20220030), the Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Study Abroad Scholarship of Jiangsu University, and Senior Talent Fund of Jiangsu University (11JDG150).